Latest news with #SindhChildLabourSurvey
Express Tribune
02-08-2025
- General
- Express Tribune
Child labour data reveals alarming trends
A survey, conducted after 28 years, has revealed alarming data that over 1.6 million children aged 10 to 17 are engaged in different forms of labour, many in dangerous and exploitative environments, across Sindh. The Sindh Child Labour Survey 2022-2024, conducted by the Sindh Labour Department with technical assistance from Unicef and the Bureau of Statistics Sindh, revealed that 50.4 per cent of working children between ages 10 and 17 are exposed to hazardous conditions including excessive working hours, extreme weather, and unsafe tools and machinery. Director General Labour, Muhammad Ali Shah, who led the project, said that the report has been submitted to the provincial government for action. He mentioned a significant decline in child labour compared to the 1996 national baseline — nearly 50 per cent lower — but emphasised that the numbers are still deeply concerning. According to the findings, school attendance among working children is just 40.6 per cent, in contrast to 70.5 per cent among non-working children. Educational participation drops significantly with age, particularly among girls aged 14 to 17, who also shoulder the bulk of household chores — averaging 13.9 hours of unpaid domestic work per week. This contributes heavily to school dropout rates. District-level data shows wide disparities. Qambar Shahdadkot tops the list with a child labour prevalence of 30.8 per cent, followed by Tharparkar at 29 per cent, Tando Muhammad Khan at 20.3 per cent, and Shikarpur at 20.2 per cent. Karachi has the lowest rate, at just 2.38 per cent. The report also draws a strong correlation between poverty and child labour. In the poorest households, 33.7 per cent reported having at least one child engaged in work.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pakistan's development rests on backs of child labourers as 1.6 million children are exploited in Sindh
. Over 1.6 million children in Sindh, aged between five and 17 years, are trapped in child labour, according to the Sindh Child Labour Survey 2022-2024, as reported by Dawn. The survey, conducted by the provincial labour department with technical support from UNICEF and the Bureau of Statistics Sindh, paints a grim picture of child welfare in the province. According to Dawn, the survey found that 50.4 per cent of children aged 10-17 engaged in child labour were working under hazardous conditions, including long hours, exposure to extreme temperatures, and use of unsafe tools. These children face daily risks that threaten their physical and mental well-being. Labour Director General Muhammad Ali Shah, who served as the project director for the survey, told Dawn that while the overall incidence of child labour has declined by nearly 50 per cent compared to 1996, when 20.6 per cent of Sindh's child population was in labour, the sheer number of children still involved remains alarming. The survey also uncovered a stark divide in school attendance between working and non-working children. Only 40.6 per cent of children involved in labour attend school, compared to 70.5 per cent of their non-working peers. Attendance sharply declines as working children age, the report highlighted. According to Dawn, the burden is especially heavy for girls aged 14 to 17, who perform an average of 13.9 hours of household chores per week and face higher dropout rates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Child labour remains strongly correlated with poverty, with 33.7 per cent of the poorest households reporting at least one child in labour. Furthermore, 20.1 per cent of working children reported symptoms of depression, nearly double the rate of children not involved in labour, noted the survey. The highest child labour rates were recorded in Qambar Shahdadkot (30.8 per cent), Tharparkar (29 per cent), Shikarpur (20.2 per cent), and Tando Muhammad Khan (20.3 per cent), with Karachi recording the lowest at 2.38 per cent, according to Dawn. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted policy interventions and poverty alleviation to protect vulnerable children. Without decisive action, the cycle of exploitation, poor education, and mental distress will persist for millions across Sindh.
