World Day Against Child Labour 2020: Anti-Child labor Day is marked on May 12 and celebrated annually. The International Labor Organization (ILO) initiated this day in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labor and the action and efforts needed to abolish it.
This year, the anti-child labor day will focus on the impact of the crisis on child labor. The coronavirus pandemic has impacted all aspects of the society. Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer.
According to ILO, child labor is “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity and that is harmful to physical and mental health”. That is such a type of work that deprives the children of their right to education and a dignified living. The COVID-19 crisis can push millions of vulnerable children into child labor. Already, there are an estimated 152 million children in child labor, 72 million of which are in hazardous work. These children are now at even greater risk of facing circumstances that are even more difficult and working longer hours.
The US child labor law is generally considered one of the strongest in the world in preventing children from working in dangerous industries except in the agricultural sector.
Significance of World Day Against Child Labour:
To bring attention to the problem of child labour and to find ways to eradicate it or fight against it, the day is celebrated every year on June 12. Millions of children are forced and pushed to work in adverse situations in factories, some are trafficked and some are directed towards prostitution. The day helps to spread awareness among the common people explaining to them why it is necessary to protect children and encourage them for education rather than working.
Theme of World Day Against Child Labour 2020:
This year the day will focus on the ‘Impact of crisis on child labour’. As per the International Labour Organisation(ILO), The COVID-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shock are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods. Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer. The crisis can push millions of vulnerable children into child labour.
Celebrations of World Day Against Child Labour 2020:
This year, the ILO will conduct a virtual campaign organized jointly with the Global March Against Child Labour and the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture (IPCCLA). Generally, on this day, various governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world come together and highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.
Child labor during COVID-19 crisis:
Due to the widespread of COVID-19, child labor in and beyond countries could spike up. As children are out of school, they are more likely to be engaged in harmful work in industries and other factories at the local level.
Children, especially from poor families, are at extreme risk of exploitation as parents fall deeper into poverty during the economic crisis and face appalling choices about how to sustain their families. Some families willingly or unwillingly send their children into the labor while others seeking employment risk being trafficked for forced labor.
According to Child helpline International, a third of the global population is on COVID-19 lockdown, and school closures have impacted more than 1.5 billion children. Movement restrictions, loss of income, isolation, overcrowding, and high levels of stress and anxiety are increasing the likelihood that children experience and observe physical, psychological, and sexual abuse at home – particularly those children already living in violent or dysfunctional family situations.
On June 9, 2020, Supreme Court of India has set rules to curb child labor during the pandemic.
Chief Justice S A Bobde, while hearing a plea filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan said, “Register contractors, seek a list of their employees to ensure no child labor is employed. Only policing won’t do. We are the ones who provide them a market since child labor is cheap. We will have to start with contractors”.
According to UNESCO, the COVID-19 outbreak has already had drastic consequences for children. Their access to education, food, and health services has been dramatically affected across the globe. The impact has been so marked, that the UN Secretary-General has urged governments and donors to offset the immediate effects of the COVID-19 crisis on children.
