As intended June 12 is child labor day which enforces an end to child labor in schools, communities, and worldwide under this year’s theme which is social justice for all to end child labor. The issue of child labor has been brought into consideration because it has affected millions of children worldwide despite the existence of laws and regulations aimed to eradicate child labor, the problem persists particularly in developing countries like Zambia where both boys and girls are forced to work in hazardous conditions, subjected to physical, emotional and psychological abuse. It has been recorded that approximately 152 million children are engaged in child labor which continues to deprive them of their fundamental human rights and stops them from the opportunity to enjoy their childhood. This article seeks to discuss the complex and sensitive issues of child labor, its definition, causes, and how to eliminate child labor specifically in the Agricultural sector by reinforcing permaculture for the children in schools and communities in Zambia.
Child Labor
Child labor can be defined as any work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity and that is harmful to physical, mental, emotional, or development. The problem of child labor is multifaceted with contributing factors such as poverty, lack of education, discrimination, and cultural beliefs, children are forced to work in dark hazardous environments where they are vulnerable to abuse. Many children work many hours, depriving them to attend school, play and socialize with their friends.
Child labor has many underlying causes, including poverty, lack of education, and discrimination. Below are some causes of child labor:
Poverty: Children from poor families are often forced to work in order to also help in the family’s income, they may work in dangerous environments like mines, and factories where they are forced to carry heavy loads and also in agricultural sectors which negatively affects children mentally, physically and also disturb their development.
Lack of education: Many families are unable to afford the cost of education or prefer not to send their children to school for various reasons such as cultural beliefs, lack of education for children may cause them to end up being in the workforce at a young age.
Discrimination: Gender discrimination in many societies, where young girls are expected to work at home or take care of their young siblings while boys are sent to school. This gender discrimination deprives girls of their right to education and forces them to work in hazardous conditions.
Child labor affects children both physically, and emotionally. Here are some ways that a child can be affected
Physical health: Child labor often involves long working hours in hazardous conditions that can compromise a child’s physical wellness and they are exposed to harmful substances or chemicals such as pesticides, which can cause health problems like allergies, cancer, and respiratory illness.
Mental health: child labor can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental illness because of the prolonged stress of working in harsh conditions and the inability to access good health care.
Children participating in child labor may not have the same opportunities to be with their friends attending school which will bring isolation among themselves in the future.
Limited access to education: children are often pulled out of school and can work which can lead to limited job opportunities in the future, by affecting the long-term economic aspects.
However, in order to end child labor, it is important that the government, organizations, and communities work together in order to eradicate the practice.
The government must remind and educate the dangers and make awareness about child labor, families should understand the significance of taking their children to school rather than sending them to go and work and ensuring they receive a decent education. Government should also prioritize education providing free or affordable education to all children.
In addition in terms of agricultural sectors, we can introduce permaculture which will play a very vital role to end child labor by empowering and educating communities to become self-sufficient and sustainable one way to achieve this by promoting the practice of permaculture gardening or farming and teaching them about the permaculture principles where they learn how to grow crops using the zero tillage technique which will reduce the labor of children instead of the digging everywhere.
In conclusion, child labor day serves as a reminder for us that millions of children around the world are being subjected to brutal and unacceptable working conditions and robbed of their childhood. It is important to raise awareness of these issues and push for a sustainable change to stop child labor. This can be achieved through greater education, enforcing laws to prohibit child labor, and promoting decent jobs for adults and global cooperation because all children have the same rights as their friends. We must work together to put justice for all because children are our future leaders.