Poverty, illiteracy and economic disparity are the root causes of child labour in any society, speakers stated at a workshop organised by the International Labour organisation (ILO) country office here on Wednesday.
The seminar was attended by people from various government organisations, NGOs, print and electronic media.
Highlighting the burgeoning issue of child labour in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas, the speakers urged the government to formulate a comprehensive legislation and work for its effective implementation in collaboration with the civil society.
It was mutually agreed that child labour could be reduced by minimising the economic disparity through co-ordinated efforts by government organisations, NGOs and media.
Speaking on the occasion, SPARC Director Anees Jilani said according to the statistics there were 75 million children in Pakistan and only half of them were going to schools, which she termed really difficult for socio-economic development of the country and added that such situation was much more dangerous than the atom bomb.
He further said that majority of child labour was invisible because they work in informal sectors of rural areas, where no labour laws are in vogue for the protection of their rights.
Javed Jadoon from Pakistan Broadcasting said extreme poverty was root cause of child labour and reduction in poverty was must to address the issue.
Speaking on the occasion, ILO project manager, Sayeda said Pakistan government was making efforts to address child labour issue seriously.
Cilocia Zaidi from a local daily said child rights were being violated in our society even in Islamabad there were 90 percent people who get have children work more than 18 hours.
Brigadier Sarfraz from Pakistan Bait-ul-mall said their department was supporting to helpless and deserving children which could reduce child labour.
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