Child labour in relation to poverty- a study in urban settlement of Karachi, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Child labour is recognized as worst form of abuse and exploitation of children. The Convention on Rights of Child urges the Governments to take effective measures for its eradication. The fundamental rights of child as survival, education, protection and development are grossly violated by child labour. To collect information on dimensions of working children and to establish relation between poverty and child labour. From July 2006 to November 2006 in Malir district of Karachi, Pakistan. Cross sectional study using structured questionnaire. Respondents were 168 males and 32 female children, who were selected by systematic random sampling. A total of 200 children of 5-15 years of age were randomly selected. Mean age of children was 10.5 years with male to female ratio 51.Twenty four percent of children were collecting papers from streets and garbage dumps, 21% were working in auto workshops as helping hands/ learning some form of skills, while 16% were doing street work as car washing, selling news papers, flowers, balloon, hair clips etc. Twenty four percent children earned Rs 20-40 per day. It was observed that 83% children belonged to poor segment of society. Poverty has direct impact and relation with child labour