By Sam Ssali Kiggundu – Senior Trade Union Instructor.
Child labour include all work which by its nature or the conditions under which it is carried out, harms, abuses or exploits the child or deprives the child of care, education, proper physical and social well being and the right to good health.
Determinants of child labour are usually age, the hours taken to do a job, the type and conditions of work materials and related substances exposed to the child and the physical mental and psychological strain of a given activity.
It is work that interferes with the child’s education mental and physical development and denies the child to rest. More than often however, many people confuse child work with child labour.
Child work is merely activities performed by children at work under the supervision of their parents or guardians with the aim of mentoring them for future roles. They include simple work like sweeping the house, cooking, washing, digging, slashing, fetching water. Firewood, baby sitting among others. This work does not interfere with school hours is not too heavy from them and generally is meant to build confidence and esteem in the child.
Disadvantages of child labour.
Children are exploited (They are paid peanuts and work long hours)
They undertake heavy responsibilities before they are mature.
In many cases they miss school education.
They are exposed to high risks which cause harm to their physical ability and mental development.
They are faced with many hazards, some of which result in diseases eg Those working in stone quarries, porters on buildings.
Many of them have been sexually abused. Time and again we have heard of stories of rape, defilement etc.
Child labour deprises adults from employment (employers prefer to exploit children instead of giving work to adults.
The role of Trade Unions.
Trade Unions were formed because of the principles of solidarity and social justice. Through their collective strength, trade unions fight injustice, resist exploitation and demand fair employment conditions. It is therefore the responsibility of Trade Unions to help create a better society by contributing to the elimination of child labour in society.
The following suggestions can help to deviate the situation.
Trade Unions should sensitize the public about the dangers of child labour (through media both paper and electronic)>
Make collective bargaining agreements (CBAS) which prohibit employers from employing children under the age of 18 (use the law)
Trade Union leaders (NOTU/COFTU) should robby members of Parliament to make laws which punish offenders (those who employ children).
Trade Unions should urgue the Government to strengthen the UPE and USE programs by ensuring that every school going child remains at school.
Government should strengthen the inspectorate department of the ministry of Gender labour and social Development to check on those employing children and punish them■
