child labour par essay

Essay on Child Labour for Students and Children

500+ words essay on child labour.

Child labour is a term you might have heard about in news or movies. It refers to a crime where children are forced to work from a very early age. It is like expecting kids to perform responsibilities like working and fending for themselves. There are certain policies which have put restrictions and limitations on children working.

The average age for a child to be appropriate to work is considered fifteen years and more. Children falling below this age limit won’t be allowed to indulge in any type of work forcefully. Why is that so? Because child labour takes away the kids opportunity of having a normal childhood, a proper education , and physical and mental well-being. In some countries, it is illegal but still, it’s a far way from being completely eradicated.

Causes of Child Labour

Child Labour happens due to a number of reasons. While some of the reasons may be common in some countries, there are some reasons which are specific in particular areas and regions. When we look at what is causing child labour, we will be able to fight it better.

Firstly, it happens in countries that have a lot of poverty and unemployment . When the families won’t have enough earning, they put the children of the family to work so they can have enough money to survive. Similarly, if the adults of the family are unemployed, the younger ones have to work in their place.

Moreover, when people do not have access to the education they will ultimately put their children to work. The uneducated only care about a short term result which is why they put children to work so they can survive their present.

Furthermore, the money-saving attitude of various industries is a major cause of child labour. They hire children because they pay them lesser for the same work as an adult. As children work more than adults and also at fewer wages, they prefer children. They can easily influence and manipulate them. They only see their profit and this is why they engage children in factories.

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Eradication of Child Labour

If we wish to eradicate child labour, we need to formulate some very effective solutions which will save our children. It will also enhance the future of any country dealing with these social issues . To begin with, one can create a number of unions that solely work to prevent child labour. It should help the children indulging in this work and punishing those who make them do it.

Furthermore, we need to keep the parents in the loop so as to teach them the importance of education. If we make education free and the people aware, we will be able to educate more and more children who won’t have to do child labour. Moreover, making people aware of the harmful consequences of child labour is a must.

In addition, family control measures must also be taken. This will reduce the family’s burden so when you have lesser mouths to feed, the parents will be enough to work for them, instead of the children. In fact, every family must be promised a minimum income by the government to survive.

In short, the government and people must come together. Employment opportunities must be given to people in abundance so they can earn their livelihood instead of putting their kids to work. The children are the future of our country; we cannot expect them to maintain the economic conditions of their families instead of having a normal childhood.

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Essay on Child Labour

Here we have shared the Essay on Child Labour in detail so you can use it in your exam or assignment of 150, 250, 400, 500, or 1000 words.

You can use this Essay on Child Labour in any assignment or project whether you are in school (class 10th or 12th), college, or preparing for answer writing in competitive exams. 

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Essay on Child Labour in 150 words

Essay on child labour in 200-300 words, essay on child labour in 500-1000 words.

Child labour is a global issue that deprives children of their childhood, education, and well-being. It involves exploitative work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful. Children engaged in labour-intensive jobs face hazardous conditions and miss out on opportunities for education and personal development. Poverty, lack of access to education, and inadequate enforcement of laws contribute to the persistence of child labour. Efforts to eliminate child labour require a comprehensive approach, including policy implementation, social protection measures, and awareness campaigns. Global initiatives and conventions aim to eradicate child labour and promote quality education for all children. It is crucial to create an environment where children can thrive, receive proper education, and break free from the cycle of poverty. Every child deserves the right to a childhood filled with learning, growth, and protection.

Child labour is a pressing issue that continues to plague societies around the world. It refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular schools, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful.

Child labour deprives children of their basic rights and hampers their overall development. It denies them the opportunity to receive proper education, resulting in limited opportunities for future growth. Children engaged in labour-intensive work are exposed to hazardous conditions, risking their physical and mental well-being.

The root causes of child labour are complex and multifaceted, including poverty, lack of access to education, social and cultural norms, and inadequate enforcement of laws and regulations. Eradicating child labour requires a holistic approach, involving the implementation of effective policies, social protection measures, and increased awareness.

Efforts are being made globally to combat child labour, including the enactment of laws, international conventions, and initiatives aimed at eliminating this practice. It is crucial to create an environment where children can receive a quality education, enabling them to break free from the cycle of poverty and contribute to the development of their communities.

In conclusion, child labour is a grave violation of children’s rights and a hindrance to their overall well-being and development. It is imperative for governments, organizations, and individuals to work together to address the root causes and eliminate child labour. Every child deserves a childhood filled with learning, growth, and opportunities for a brighter future.

Title: Child Labour – A Stolen Childhood

Introduction :

Child labour is a grave global issue that robs children of their childhood, dignity, and fundamental rights. It refers to the exploitative employment of children in work that is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful. Child labour is a complex problem with deep-rooted causes, including poverty, lack of access to education, social norms, and weak enforcement of laws. This essay examines the causes, consequences, and efforts to combat child labour, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to protect the rights and well-being of children.

Causes of Child Labour

Child labour is often driven by economic factors, with families living in poverty compelled to send their children to work in order to supplement household income. Limited access to quality education, lack of affordable schooling, and inadequate social support contribute to the prevalence of child labour. In some cases, cultural and social norms perpetuate the idea that children should work, depriving them of their right to education and nurturing childhood.

Consequences of Child Labour

Child labour has severe consequences for children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Children engaged in hazardous work face significant health risks, including injuries, illnesses, and developmental delays. They are often denied the opportunity to attend school, hindering their educational development and limiting future opportunities. Child labour perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as illiteracy and limited skills trap individuals in low-wage, exploitative employment in adulthood.

Exploitative Industries

Child labour is prevalent in various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, mining, construction, and domestic work. In agriculture, children are often engaged in hazardous tasks such as pesticide application, heavy lifting, and long hours of work. In manufacturing and mining, children are exposed to dangerous machinery, toxic substances, and exploitative working conditions. Domestic work exposes children to long hours, physical abuse, and isolation.

Legal and Ethical Perspectives

International conventions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, condemn child labour and call for its elimination. Many countries have enacted laws to protect children’s rights and prohibit child labour. However, weak enforcement, limited resources, and gaps in legislation hinder the effective eradication of the problem. Ethical considerations highlight the importance of corporations and consumers in ensuring responsible supply chains that are free from child labour.

Efforts to Combat Child Labour

Various organizations, governments, and civil society groups are actively working to combat child labour. They focus on initiatives such as providing access to quality education, vocational training for adults, poverty alleviation programs, and social protection measures. Advocacy campaigns raise awareness about the harmful consequences of child labour and mobilize support for its eradication. International collaborations and partnerships aim to address the systemic issues that perpetuate child labour, fostering sustainable solutions.

Conclusion :

Child labour remains a grave violation of children’s rights and a barrier to their development. It is a global problem that requires collective action to address its root causes. By addressing poverty, improving access to education, enforcing protective legislation, and promoting responsible business practices, we can create a world where children are protected, educated, and free from exploitation. Efforts must be intensified to ensure that every child enjoys their right to a childhood, education, and a future filled with hope and opportunity. Together, we can work towards a world where child labour is eradicated, and all children have the chance to thrive and realize their full potential.

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Essay on Child Labour

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Introduction:

Child Labour means indulging the children in arduous labour which affects their physical and mental development and exploiting their potential to grow up with dignity.

UNICEF Facts:

UNICEF shows that about 10.1 million children in India are engaged in Work , thereby constituting 13% of the workforce in India. The age limit of these children ranges between 5 to 14 years.

Challenges & Steps to Be Taken:

Child labour doesn’t follow pattern and happens in all walks from within families to factories. Hence, the mindset of the society should be changed to emphasize that children must go to school and adults should be employed.

Conclusion:

Government should make stricter laws to eradicate child labour. NGOs should pitch in to these avenues and empower these children to a brighter future.

Any work that snatches away the dignity, potential and most importantly the childhood of a child is termed as child labour. Child labour has often been associated with work that is harmful to the physical as well as mental development of the child. Unfortunately, the most number of child labour cases in the world are reported from India every year. But what has eventually led us to adopt this otherwise disrespected practice?

CAUSES OF CHILD LABOUR:

Lack of social security, hunger and poverty are the fundamental drivers of child labour. The expanding gap between the rich and poor people, privatization of fundamental organisations and the neo-liberal monetary strategies are causes of significant areas of the population remaining out of business and without essential needs. This antagonistically influences kids more than some other age groups. A significant concern is that the real number of child workers goes un-distinguished. Laws that are intended to shield youngsters from unsafe work are ineffectual and not executed accurately.

MEASURES TO STOP CHILD LABOUR:

Elimination of poverty, the abolition of child trafficking and compulsory and free education and training can help diminish the issue of child labour. Strict implementation of work laws is additionally a basic requirement with the end goal to counteract abuse by organisations. Amendments in the present child labour laws are required to actually take control of the situation. The base of the age of fourteen years should be expanded to something like eighteen. Then only we can put an end to the continuous harassment faced by our kids and help them have a bright future not only for themselves for the nation as a whole.

Child labour is a social issue in India and abroad where kids are exploited by organized and unorganized sectors of industry. The issue of child labour is quite prominent in dominating countries like India where families belonging to poor or weaker sections push their kids to work to earn instead of educating them. Such kids are easy prey for industries that are always on the look for cheap labour. It is estimated that around 70-90 million children in India are engaged in some sort of industry work. Of the total number of children working in the industry. 15% is approved by the Child Labour Act while 85% of them are illegally employed.

Child Labour Act in India was introduced 10 years back to protect the rights of the children. Unfortunately, even after a recorded number of child labour in various industries, there has not been a single reported case of child exploitation or illegal child labour. There is no forum in place to protect their rights and expose the exploiters. Child labour is a crime to humanity as kids below the age of 18 years are pushed to work in coal industries, construction, fireworks and more. They are forced to work as domestic help, brick kiln workers and bid rollers against their abilities and without seeking their consent.

It is saddening to know that the country where children are regarded as the future are forced to work for money. Another staggering fact is that children belonging to the affluent family takes up job in industries out of excitement and to earn extra money. In short, cultural and economic factors interact in India to encourage kids to work.

The issue of child labour can be dealt with only after understanding the real cause behind kids working in the industries. The children should be encouraged to speak up for themselves and say no to child labour.

Child labor is an important topic that is being debated as a serious social issue all around the world. Keeping the society aware of this issue will help to avoid such illegal and inhuman activity from destroying the lives of many children.

Child Labor is something that replaces the normal activities a child, like education, playing, etc., by economic activities. These economic activities may be paid or unpaid work, which benefits the family of the child or the owner the child work’s for. The age limit is restricted to fourteen years or even seventeen years in case of dangerous works.

Reason for Child Labor:

Children may be forced to do child labor because of poverty and financial problems in their family. Many owners accept child labors since they only need a less amount as salary or even some accept non-monetary jobs too.

Children are often made to do such hard jobs by their irresponsible parents. They send their kids for domestic works for the money as well as for food they get through these works. These demanding works often spoil the childhood and give a harder way of living to the kid.

Parents allow their children for such jobs because of lack of awareness too. When they are too poor to take admissions in schools and the lack of good schools in their locality may also lead to such activities.

Types of Child Labor:

Not all form of jobs done by children are considered as child labor, but there are some things to note while categorizing them. Whether the job done mentally, morally, physically and socially affect the child in a dangerous way? Does the job done affect their education and other childhood activities like playing? The job they do shouldn’t be both tiring and excessive that they are forced to avoid other activities they should be doing in their age. These are the characteristics of Child Labor.

In extreme ways, there are owners who treat children like slaves and separate them from their families to do such hard jobs. Whatever be the job done, child labor depends on the age of the kid involved, type of activity and hours of work they do per day.

As a conclusion, children are meant to be enjoying their childhood and should be allowed to educate themselves at early ages. There are many schemes introduced by the government to reduce such child labors like providing free education and taking severe actions against those who promote child labor.

Child labor is illegal exploitation of children below the age 18. It is a cognizable criminal offense. Indian Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and subsequent amendment of CLPR Act1986 prohibits employing children below the age of 14. Children under the age of 14 even should not be employed as domestic help. However, children between 14 and 18 categorized as ‘adolescent’ and can be employed if it does not violate the Factories Act, 1948.

Child labor is a bane to any country. It is a shameful practice and rampant more in developing and underdeveloped countries. Child labor is a hot topic in India among intellectual communities and political circles; still this social evil is seamlessly being practiced in our country, with the blessing of bureaucracy and political patronage. It is high time to eradicate child labor from our society and punish the unscrupulous people who have been continuing the evil practice.

The development of any nation begins with the welfare of children. At an age adorned with colors and pranks, the tiny tots wither away their innocence in hazardous working conditions devoid of any childish fantasies.

At a tender age, the toddlers take up responsibilities to feed their families, and there could be many reasons that might have forced the children to work as a breadwinner. They strive hard day and night to feed their entire family. They sacrifice their lives, for their family even without knowing the personal repercussions in their later life.

This trend must have to stop at any cost. A practical solution to keep this social menace at bay is to organize awareness programs and introduce stringent laws which force children not to work or employ them as child labor. Some unscrupulous and merciless people appoint them because of cheap labor, as they have no bargaining power or no other choice but to succumb to their destiny.

Parents from the vulnerable section required proper advice and counseling to make them understand the importance of education. The government should come forward to identifying such families by offering social security without cast and religion consideration. The government should provide free boarding education for such financially backward communities, irrespective of any consideration. The only consideration must be their financial status.

Moreover, the existing laws pertaining to child labor must have, and if required, a proper amendment should be made to the Child Labor Act to stop the social evil system. Then only our dreams of a child labor free India, come true.

Greedy employees, poverty, poor financial background, lack of education are the main reason for child labor. It is the responsibility of government, social organization and society to address the issue for finding a permanent solution. Children are the asset of the nation. When they fail, the country fails, period.

One of the cruelest crimes that are done to the children is the child labor in which the kids are forced to do work at a tiny age. They are compelled to earn like adults for supporting their families economically. As per the International Labour Organization, the children who have not attained the age of 15 should not get forcefully involved in any kind of work.

Employing children in work at an early age make their childhood deprived of the right to education along with the lack of mental, physical and social welfare. Child labor is prohibited in certain nations, but still, it is a global concern in maximum countries for rescinding the kid’s future predominantly.

As per the Indian law, the children under the 14 years of age should not be hired to any work at the workshops, organizations or restaurants. Their parents cannot also force them to do any job.

Different Causes of Child Labour:

There are numerous causes of child labor like repression of child rights, poverty, improper education, limited rules and laws on child labor, etc. The reasons for the child labor are almost the same in different nations.

The following are the various causes of child labor:

i. The high level of unemployment and the problem of poverty in developing countries are the primary cause of child labor. As per the statistics of U.N. in the year 2005, over 1/4 th of the people globally are living below the poverty line.

ii. The lack of right to regular education is one of the reasons for child labor in numerous nations. According to the research done in the year, 2006, nearly 76 million kids have not seen the face of the school.

iii. Violating the regulations about the child labor has also provided the way to enlarge this problem in developing nations.

iv. Insufficient social control has resulted in an increasing percentage of child labor in the region of domestic work or agriculture.

v. Small kids have to get involved in the child labor to add up in the income of their family so that they can eat food for at least two times a day.

vi. They are employed by the industries at the decreased labor expenses to get extra work done.

Probable Solutions to the Child Labour

With the purpose to eradicate the problem of: child labor from society, there is the necessity to follow certain effective way out on a serious basis to protect the future of an emerging nation.

Below are some probable solutions to avoid the issue of child labor:

i. Constructing new unions might benefit in stopping child labor since it will inspire more people to support against the point of child labor.

ii. The parents should consider the education of their children as the priority from their childhood. In this movement, the schools should also cooperate by providing free education to the children without any obstruction.

iii. There should be a high level of social awareness regarding child labor with the accurate statistics of enormous damage in the future for any emerging nation.

iv. Every single family should earn their minimum earnings with the purpose of surviving and preventing the problem of child labor. It will also decrease the number of people living below the poverty line in the country which ultimately reduces the child labor cause.

v. There is the requirement of more strict and effective government rules against the child employment with the aim of preventing the kids from working at their early age.

vi. The issue of child trafficking must be abolished by the different nation’s governments.

vii. The child laborers must be substituted by the adult labors so that the adult can get the job and kids get free from the child labor.

viii. The opportunities for employment for the adults must be increased for adults to decrease the issue of poverty as well as child labor.

ix. Trade proprietors of manufacturing work, businesses, mines, etc., must have the pledge of not employing any kid in any labor.

Child labor is one of the broad social issues that require getting resolved on an urgent basis. This step is incomplete without the support of parents as well as the government. Kids carry a flourishing prospect of any developing nation. Thus, they should be a considerable concern of all the citizens.

Children should get appropriate chance to grow and develop inside the contented surroundings of school and family. People should not use them for their earnings or for-profit motive. Children have full right to live their personal life with proper education.

Children are a gift and blessing to a family. They deserve the unconditional love and care of the parents. It is inhuman to take advantage of their innocence and helplessness. However in India, a lot of children are being subjected to child labour, probably due to lack of awareness. They are deprived of a happy and normal childhood.

Meaning of Child Labour:

Child Labour involves engaging children to produce goods or services for financial gain. It denies their right to attend regular school and enjoy a happy childhood. It rips their capacity in the bud to have a good future. It affects the overall development of their physical and mental faculties.

When children are involved in full or part time work, it affects their schooling, recreation and rest. However, any work to promote and develop the child’s capability without affecting these three components is encouraged positively.

Causes of Child Labour:

Poverty is the foremost cause of child labour in India. Indian children have the history of labouring with their parents in their professional activities. It may seem right for the poverty-stricken parents to involve their children in labour for the sake of their family’s welfare. However, the right of that child for education and normal childhood is denied in the process.

Some illiterate parents often subject their children to bonded labour. Unaware of the exorbitant interest rates, they exploit their children by allowing to labour against their debt. Sometimes, the non-availability of affordable education in the villages are a cause of child labour.

When parents are sick or disabled, the need to earn the living falls squarely on the children’s shoulders. In such cases, they are not in a position to abide by the law. Rather than stealing and begging, they tend to allow their children to labour at a young age.

Sometimes, greediness of men play a part in child labour. The parents, who wish to increase the economic status of the family subject their children to labour. The employers, on their part, prefer child labourers against adults, taking advantage of the low labour cost.

Some families traditionally believe that the next generation should continue their family business. The children of these families are restricted to pursue their own goals in terms of education and career. In the Indian Society, there are still people who believe that girl children are fit only for domestic chores. So, girls often lose their right for education and normal childhood.

Child Labour Laws in India:

Child labour laws were formulated to prevent child labour, monitor and punish violators, and rehabilitate the victims.

They were laid down as early as 1938 during the colonial rule. But, year after year, during the various Government regimes, several amendments were made.

In the 1974 policy, children were declared as “nation’s supremely important asset.” The need to prioritize their welfare in national plans was recognised. The overall development of their sound spirit, soul and body was emphasized.

The 2003 policy underlined the right of the child to enjoy a happy childhood, to clear the causes that dampen their development, to educate the society to strengthen family ties and to protect them from all kinds of mistreatment.

In the 2013 policy, the rights of the child to survive, to enjoy good health, to be nourished with nutritious food, to have overall development of their personality, their opportunity for good education, their protection from abuse and participation in decision-making of their future life were the key priorities. This policy is due for review every five years.

Solutions to Child Labour:

The Government is working close with social agencies and common public to solve the issues of child labour.

Online Portal:

Since 1988, National Child Labour Project Scheme (NCLPS) started to reinstate the rescued child labourers working in hazardous occupations. When children are rescued, they are enrolled in Special Training Centres and given education, meals, stipend, health care and recreation. Eventually, they are directed towards mainstream education. Adolescents rescued are given skilled trainings and suitable jobs.

The present Government has revived this scheme in 2017 with the latest use of technology to register child labour complaints online. With aims to eradicate child labour, the PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) Portal serves to receive complaints, rescues the child with the help of local police and tracks the progress until he/she is successfully enrolled in a school or vocational training.

Sensitization:

Since the community and local governance have definite roles in the welfare of a child, many programmes are being conducted to create awareness and sensitize the common people. Several coordination and action groups have been formed at State and District levels to monitor. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is the nodal Ministry that oversees and coordinates the implementation of the current policy.

Nobel Peace Laureate, Kailash Satyarthi, the Indian Children’s Rights Activist, believes that child labour could be abolished only through collaborative action, dedication at political level, sufficient capital and compassion for the needy children. The Government and the stakeholders like him, with their organisations, are working closely to root out this social evil by 2025.

About Child Labor:

In India, child labor refers to the hiring of any child below the age of 14 for the purpose of any economic benefits. In other words, it is illegal for an organization, including shops and factories to engage a child in their business for physical labor. This especially holds true for employment with occupational hazards, such as coal mines, welding, construction works, and painting, etc.

Though constitution makes employing the kids for laborious works a punishable offense, data says otherwise. Many national and international laws have been created to give these children protection from child labor but ground reality is something else. In India alone, more than 50 million children are forced into child labor for one or the other reasons.

Major Causes of Child Labor:

First of all, poverty strikes a major percentage of the total population of India. Life in rural areas of villages is even more difficult. The poor economic condition and low standard of living pave the way for child labor. To compensate for the daily needs of food and survival, both boys and girls are forced to work beyond their capacities. It is fair to say that they are left with no choice.

Lack of Education:

Lack of education in the rural areas means parents are less educated. Consequently, they also do not value the importance of school and education in the lives of their own children. In the scarcity of contraceptive awareness, couples end up having multiple children. Arranging three meals every day becomes an impossible task and the children learn it the hard way quite soon.

Gender Discrimination:

Girls are often prevented from going to school at a very low age. They are made to help in the fieldwork and the house chores as well. The story is not much different for the boys too. They quit school in order to take up some labor work in factories and farms and help their father in breadwinning.

Cheap Labor:

In big cities and towns, these factors may be absent but that doesn’t immune the urban areas from the child labor cases. Child labors are easy to afford. They can be made to do more tiring jobs at low pays. Often the owners would provide them little food and money for continuous hours of work. As these kids have no family support, they end up giving in to such exploitations.

Child Trafficking:

Child trafficking is also another factor that leads to child labor. Trafficked children have no home. They are sent to faraway place unknown to them. Ultimately, these little souls are pushed into extremely torturing and dangerous work conditions, such as prostitution, domestic helping, transport of drugs, etc.

Impacts of Child Labor:

Poor Physical and Mental Health:

Children at such a young age are gullible and vulnerable. Child labor affects their physical, mental, and emotional health in a severe way. They are deprived of their basic rights to education. Arduous physical strain and the burden of arranging their own food cause malnutrition in them.

Forced Maturity:

In order to survive in this world, they tend to become mature faster than they need to. Their childhood is lost and crushed with the bitter pressure of acting like an adult. The kind of affection and love needed at such a tender age is never available to them. Both parents and the owners are often highly demanding to them.

Physical Abuse:

Such consistent threats keep the children in a frightening state of mind all the time. There are increased chances of physical abuse. To cope up with these pressures, girls and boys fall victims to the drug abuse. Many more dangerous habits become a normal part of their lives.

Addiction and Sexual Abuse:

From taking drugs to selling them, alcohol addiction, sexually transmitted diseases, rape, emotional numbness, violence, are common things that surround their living conditions. Poor kids may also catch up these habits from their own parents or localities, where their parents or friends are showing these behaviors on a regular basis.

The situation becomes worse if these kids are physically handicapped. In villages and low-income groups, the adults struggle to arrange a proper livelihood for themselves. So, they begin to see girls and handicapped children as nothing more than a baggage. As a result, girls are sold off to marry old men and the kids are left to beg on the streets.

Challenges in Controlling Child Labor:

Unclear Laws:

While the laws to diminish the curse of child labor have been made, they are pretty vague in nature. For instance, most of the laws are unable to dictate strict guidelines for the unorganized sectors. Immunity from the dangerous works is not sufficient. Moreover, clear points should be laid out in terms of where and for how many hours can the children work (if they really need to).

Lack of Rehabilitation Plans:

Another issue that the authorities face is the lack of rehabilitation facilities for the children who have been saved from the devil grips of child labor. It becomes an unanswered question as to how these children should regain control of their new lives and start afresh. Proper counseling and nutrition play an indispensable role to help them thrive.

Lack of Awareness:

More awareness needs to be created in rural and urban areas. Adults including the parents should be taught about the negative impacts of child labor on the minds of children. They should also be explained about the power of education and the various schemes which promises a free basic education for kids. It is even more important to emphasize how the education empowers girls and makes their lives better.

Child labor is not just about forcing children to work. Its side effects are quite large and gruesome. It leaves a stain on the child’s mind. It interferes with their mental and emotional health and prevents their proper growth and development. It is a blemish on the face of humanity that must be erased as soon as possible.

After all, what kind of citizens do we expect them to grow into after such kinds of abuse? We need to think about it. Children are the future of our society, our country. We cannot hope for true growth and prosperity until and unless our young generation is safe and healthy in every way.

Child Labour , Child Labour in India , Social Issues

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Child Labour Essay

Many children are forced to labour in a variety of dangerous and non-hazardous occupations, including agriculture, glass manufacturing, the carpet and brass industries, matchbox manufacturing, and household labour. Here are some sample essays on child labour.

• 100 Words Essay On Child Labour

Child labour is defined as the employment of children for any type of work that interferes with their physical and mental growth and denies them access to the fundamental educational and recreational needs. A child is generally regarded as old enough to work when they are fifteen years old or older. Children under this age limit are not permitted to engage in any sort of forced employment. Because child labour denies children the chance to experience a normal upbringing, receive a quality education, and appreciate their physical and emotional wellbeing. Although it is prohibited in certain nations, it has still not been totally abolished.

200 Words Essay On Child Labour

500 words essay on child labour.

Children are preferred for employment in many unorganised small industries because they are less demanding and easier to handle. Sometimes the children's own families force them into child labour because they lack the funds or are unable to provide for them.

These kids frequently live in poor, unsanitary circumstances with little access to school or medical care. These kids are also forced to live in seclusion and aren't permitted to play, engage socially, or make friends. Such a toxic workplace is difficult for kids and frequently contributes to mental illnesses like depression. These kids frequently use drugs and other substances, which worsens their physical and mental health.

Why Is Child Labour Prohibited?

The employment of children in a manner that denies them the chance to enjoy childhood, receive an education, or experience personal growth is known as child labour. There are many strong laws against child labour, and many nations, like India, have standards of imprisonment and fines if a person or organisation is found to be engaging in child labour.

Even while there are rules in place to prevent child labour, we still need to enforce them. Children are compelled to work as children owing to poverty and to help support their families.

Child labourers are either trafficked from their home countries or originate from destitute backgrounds. They are fully at the power of their employers and have no protection.

Causes Of Child Labour

Here are some reasons that lead to child labour:

Poverty | Child labour is a problem that is greatly influenced by poverty. Children in low-income households are viewed as an additional source of income. These kids are expected to help out with their parents' duties when they get older.

Illiteracy | One significant component that fuels this issue is illiteracy. Because they must invest more than they receive in return in the form of wages from their children, the illiterate parents view education as a burden. Children who work as labourers are subjected to unsanitary circumstances, late hours, and other hardships that have an immediate impact on their cognitive development.

Bonded Labour | Unethical businesses like using children as labourers over adults since they can get more work done from them and pay them less per hour. Children are forced to work in this sort of child labour in order to pay off a family loan or obligation. Due to bonded labour, poor children have also been trafficked from rural to urban areas to work as domestic help, in tiny manufacturing houses, or simply to live as street beggars.

How To Protect Children From Child Labour?

Multiple facets of society will be required to support efforts to abolish child labour. The effectiveness of government initiatives and its personnel is limited. Therefore, we ought to come together and channelize our efforts in the right direction to stop child labour. Here are some of the ways to stop child labour–

Notice | Be cautious when eating at a neighbouring restaurant or shopping at a neighbourhood market. Inform local authorities or call CHILDLINE 1098 if you see any children working as child labourers.

Know The Law | The first step in preventing child labour is to understand the constitution's role in child protection. Knowing the laws gives you the knowledge you need to combat the threat and alert those who use child labour.

Educate And Aware | Child labour may be avoided by educating others about its negative impacts, especially business leaders and employers. Discuss with them how child labour affects children's physical and emotional health, and tell them what the laws and punishments are.

Conversation With Parents | If you are aware of a parent in your area who is forcing his or her child to work as a youngster, speak with that parent and explain the dangers that child labour poses to the future of their offspring and highlight how education and skill building may protect their child's future.

Enrolment In Schools | In your community, you may establish a setting that encourages learning for street kids. You may assist disadvantaged youngsters in learning and self-education by raising money to create libraries and community learning centres in your area. Additionally, you may help the parents enrol their kids in school.

A country cannot advance if its children are living in abject poverty. To stop the exploitation and employment of children in certain industries, it is essential to identify these sectors and create the required legislation and laws. This should be society's and the government's shared duty.

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• Child Labour Essay

What is Child Labour?

Child Labour means the employment of children in any kind of work that hampers their physical and mental development, deprives them of their basic educational and recreational requirements. A large number of children are compelled to work in various hazardous and non-hazardous activities such as in the agriculture sector, glass factories, carpet industry, brass industries, matchbox factories, and as domestic help. It is a blot on our society and speaks immensely about the inability of our society to provide a congenial environment for the growth and development of children. 

Childhood is considered to be the best time of one’s life but unfortunately, this does not hold true for some children who struggle to make both ends meet during their childhood years. According to the Child Labour project and 2011 census, 10.2 million children are engaged in child labour in India, out of which 4.5 million are girls. 

Earlier, children helped their parents in basic chores in agriculture such as sowing, reaping, harvesting, taking care of the cattle, etc. However, with the growth of the industries and urbanization, the issue of child labour has increased. Children at a very tender age are employed for various inappropriate activities and they are forced to make hazardous stuff using their nimble fingers. They are employed in the garment factories, leather, jewellery, and sericulture industries. 

Contributing Factors of Increasing Child Labour

There are a number of factors that contribute to the rise of this peril. 

Poverty plays a major role in the issues of child labour. In poor families, children are considered to be an extra earning hand. These families believe that every child is a bread-earner and so they have more children. As these children grow up, they are expected to share their parents’ responsibilities. 

Illiteracy is an important factor that contributes to this problem. The illiterate parents think that education is a burden because they need to invest more in comparison to the returns that they get in the form of earnings from their children. Child labourers are exposed to unhygienic conditions, late working hours, and different enormities, which have a direct effect on their cognitive development. The tender and immature minds of the children are not able to cope with such situations leading to emotional and physical distress. 

Unethical employers also prefer child labourers to adults because they canextract more work from them and pay a lesser amount of wage. Bonded child labour is the cruellest act of child labour. In this type of child labour, the children are made to work to pay off a loan or a debt of the family. Bonded labour has also led to the trafficking of these impoverished children from rural to urban areas in order to work as domestic help or in small production houses or just to lead the life of street beggars. 

Role of the Government

The government has a very important role to play in the eradication of child labour. As poverty is the major cause of child labour in our country, the government should give assurance to provide the basic amenities to the lower strata of our society. There should be an equal distribution of wealth. More work opportunities need to be generated to give fair employment to the poor. The various NGOs across the nation should come forward and provide vocational training to these people in order to jobs or to make them self-employed. 

This lower stratum of our society should understand and believe in the importance of education. The government and the NGOs should reach out to such people to raise awareness and initiate free education for all children between the age group of 6-14 years. The parents must be encouraged to send their children to schools instead of work. 

Educated and affluent citizens can come forward and contribute to the upliftment of this class of society. They should spread the message about the harmful effects of child labour. Schools and colleges can come up with innovative teaching programmes for poor children. Offices and private and government institutions should offer free education to the children of their staff. 

Moreover, awareness of family planning needs to be created among these people. The NGOs and the government must educate them about family planning measures. This will help the family to reduce the burden of feeding too many mouths.

Child Labour is a Crime 

Despite the strict law about child labour being a crime, it is still widely prevalent in India and many other countries worldwide. Greedy and crooked employers also lack awareness of human rights and government policies among the people below poverty. 

Children in certain mining operations and industries are a cheap source of labour, and the employers get away with it because of corruption in the bureaucracy. Sometimes low-income families may also ignore basic human rights and send their children to earn extra money. It is a systemic problem that needs to be solved by addressing issues at many levels. 

However, to protect young children from such exploitation, the Indian government has come up with a set of punishments. Any person who hires a child younger than 14, or a child between the ages of 14 and 18 in a dangerous job, they are liable to be imprisoned for a term of 6 months-2 years and/or a monetary penalty ranging between Rs.20,000 and Rs.80,000.

Eradicating Child Labour 

Eradication of child labour will require support from multiple aspects of society. The government programs and government agents can only go so far with their efforts. Sometimes, poor and uneducated families would be reluctant to let go of their familiar ways even when better opportunities are provided.

That’s when normal citizens and volunteers need to step up for support. NGOs supported by well-meaning citizens will have to ensure that the government policies are strictly enforced, and all forms of corruption are brought to light.  

Education drives and workshops for the poor section of the economy need to help raise awareness. Parents need to understand the long-term benefits of education for their children. It can help in developing the quality of life and the potential to rise out of poverty.

The harmful consequences of child labour mentally and physically on the children need to be taught in the workshops. Government petitions can also encourage schooling for younger children by offering nutritious meals and other benefits. 

Education about family planning is also critical in helping to control the population. When low-income families have more children, they are also inclined to send them for work to help float the household. Having fewer children means that they are valued, and parents focus on providing for their nourishment, education, and long-term well-being. 

Having fewer kids also makes them precious, and parents will not send them to hazardous working environments in fear of permanent injury or death. The government should introduce incentives for families with one or two children to encourage poorer families to have fewer children and reap the benefits while providing a good life.

Government Policies

The Indian Government enacted many laws to protect child rights, namely the Child and Adolescent Labour Act, 1986, the Factories Act, 1948, the Mines Act, 1952, the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000. 

As per the Child Labour Act (Prohibition and Regulation), 1986, children under the age of fourteen years old could not be employed in hazardous occupations. This act also attempts to regulate working conditions in the jobs that it permits and emphasizes health and safety standards. 

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 mandates free and compulsory education to all children between the age group of 6 to 14 years old. 

A nation full of poverty-ridden children cannot make progress. It should be the collective responsibility of society and the government to provide these impoverished children with a healthy and conducive environment, which will help them to develop their innate capabilities and their skills effectively.

FAQs on Child Labour Essay

Q1. What do you understand by Child Labour?

Child Labour means the employment of children in any kind of work that impedes their physical and mental development, deprives them of their basic educational and recreational requirements.

Q2. What factors lead to Child Labour?

Poverty, illiteracy, no family control lead to Child Labour. Even the growth of industrialization and urbanization play a major role in the Child Labour. The exploitation of poor people by unethical employers on account of failing to pay their loans or debts, lead to child labour.

Q3. What measures should be taken to eradicate Child Labour?

The government, NGOs should raise awareness about family control measures among the weaker section of the society. The government should provide free amenities and education to children between the age group of 6-14 years. The government should generate more employment opportunities for them. The schools and colleges can come up with innovative teaching programs for them.

Q4. Which policy has banned the employment of Children?

 The Child and Adolescent Labour Act, 1986 has banned the employment of children under the age of 14 years.

Q5. What are the causes of child labour? 

Child labour is mainly caused by poverty in families from the underprivileged section of the economy. Poor and uneducated parents send children to work under unsupervised and often dangerous conditions. They do not realise the damage it causes for children in the long run. Child labour is also caused by the exploitation of poor people by crooked employers. The problem is also fueled by corruption at the bureaucratic level, which ignores worker and human rights violations.

Q6. How to prevent child labour? 

Child labour can be prevented by education programs supported by the government and also NGOs. Volunteers have educated low-income families about the dangers of child labour and the benefits of education. Government laws should be reformed and enforced more rigorously to punish people who employ underage children.

Q7. What are the types of child labour?

There are mainly four types of child labour: 

Domestic child labourers:   These are children (mostly girls) who wealthy families employ to do the household chores.

Industrial child labourers:   Children are made to work in factories, mines, plantations, or small-scale industries. 

Debt Bondage:   Some children are forced to work as debt labourers to clear the inherited debts of their families. 

Child Trafficking:   Child trafficking is when orphaned or kidnapped children are sold for money. They are exploited the most without regard for their well-being. 

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• School Education /

Essay on Child Labour in 1000 Words for Students

• Updated on  
• May 21, 2024

Essay on Child Labour: A study called ‘ Campaign Against Child Labour ‘ revealed that around 12.67 million child labourers exist in India. Child labour refers to the forceful employment of children at shops, domestic and hazardous places like factories and mines. Child labour exploits children for their basic childhood rights and affects their physical and mental growth. According to the International Labour Organization, the minimum age to work is 15 years. However, some countries have set the minimum working age at 14 years.

In India, the Ministry of Labour & Employment is responsible for protecting children’s rights. The Ministry launched the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) scheme for the rehabilitation of child labourers.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 Poverty and Unemployment
• 1.2 Lack of Access to Education
• 1.3 Lack of Enforcement Laws
• 1.4 Debt Bondage
• 1.5 Ignorance and Lack of Awareness
• 2.1 Education Deprivation
• 2.2 Impact on Physical Health
• 2.3 Impact on Mental and Emotional Health
• 2.4 Cycle of Poverty
• 3 What is the Global Perspective?
• 4 Child Labour in India
• 5 Steps to Eradicate Child Labour
• 6 10 Lines to Add in Child Labour Essay

Major Child Labour Causes

Poverty, unemployment, lack of access to quality education, lack of awareness, etc are some of the common causes of child labour. Understanding all the causes of child labour is very important to eradicating its practice.

Poverty and Unemployment

Poverty and unemployment are the primary causes of child labour. Families living in extreme poverty force their children to work and meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. On top of this, employees take advantage of their poverty and pay them low wages.

Lack of Access to Education

Children belonging to poor families have limited access to education due to inadequate infrastructure, insufficient resources and social discrimination. Due to this reason, children who are supposed to go to school are pushed towards labour instead of attending school.

“The Best Way to Make Children Good is to Make Them Happy” – Oscar Wilde

Lack of Enforcement Laws

A lot of countries do not have strict laws against child labour. Unethical employers are not afraid because the laws against child labour are not strict. Child labour is persistent because employees do not fear the law. In some cases, insufficient coordination among government agencies, NGOs, and international organizations leads to gaps in the enforcement of child labour laws.

Debt Bondage

Debt bondage or bonded labour is a type of child labour where individuals are forced to work to repay a debt or a family loan. These impoverished people have no other option but to work as bonded labourers in domestic places. 

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

Ignorance and Lack of Awareness

The lack of awareness becomes an important cause of child labour, as these people have no idea about the long-term consequences of child labour. 

Impacts on Children

Child labour can have serious impacts on a child’s physical and mental growth. However, the impacts of child labour are not limited to children only. 

Education Deprivation

Child labour deprives children of their right to education. In India, the Right to Education is a basic Fundamental Right and is also a Fundamental Duty. The Indian Constitution says that any person, who is a parent or a guardian, must provide opportunities for education to his child or ward between the ages of six and fourteen years.

Also Read: Child Labour Speech

Impact on Physical Health

Children who consistently work in dangerous or tough conditions sometimes get hurt, and sick, and can face long-term health issues. Children working in factories and mines are exposed to harmful chemicals, pollutants and dust. Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory problems, skin disorders, and other health issues.

Impact on Mental and Emotional Health

Working for long hours in hazardous conditions is a deadly combination. These conditions can contribute to high levels of stress and anxiety, affecting the mental well-being of children. In addition to this, these children are denied the right to education, which limits their cognitive development and prospects.

Cycle of Poverty

Children are supposed to go to school and study, not work in factories or as domestic helpers. Child labour perpetuates the cycle of poverty. The cycle of poverty can only end if child labour ends. 

Also Read: Essay on Peer Pressure in 100, 200 and 350 Words

What is the Global Perspective?

According to UNICEF, 1 out of 10 children are subjected to child labour worldwide and some are forced into hazardous work through trafficking. Child labour is a complex issue with its regional challenges. In 2020, around 16 crore children in the world were subjected to child labour. 

International organisations like the ILO, UNICEF, etc. are constantly fighting against children. They collaborate with global governments, NGOs, and private organisations and discuss the root causes of child labour, such as poverty, lack of access to education, cultural norms, armed conflict, and economic pressures. It is very important to address these factors for effective solutions.

Child Labour in India

In India, there are five major sectors where child labour is most prevalent. These sectors are:

• Agriculture – The largest number of children are employed in the agricultural sector and related activities. Children in rural areas are employed in sugarcane, wheat and rice farms, where they are forced to work for long hours in scorching heat.
• Brick Kilns – For ages, the brick kiln industry has been employing children at low wages. In several brick kilns, children work for long hours with their parents and are exposed to toxic fumes and pollutants.
• Garment Industry – The Indian garment industry constitutes a large portion of child labour. Most of the Indian garment industries are managed by local start-ups, who hire children at low wages to preserve their profit margin.
• Fireworks – Firework factory owners hire a significant number of children at low wages. Children working in fireworks factories work in cramped conditions and are exposed to toxic fumes and hazardous chemicals, which hampers their physical and mental health.
• Unorganised Sectors – The unorganised sector includes local dhabas, food and tea stalls, vegetable and fruit vendors, etc. These people employ children as helpers and servants. 

Also Read: Essay on Discipline

Steps to Eradicate Child Labour

• Raising awareness about child labour can be the first step to eradicating child labour. If people, especially parents, are aware of the consequences of child labour, they might not force their children to work in hazardous places. 
• Traffickers prey on vulnerable children, especially those who come from poor families and are not aware of child labour. Awareness ensures growth and opportunities in education, employment and career.
• There is an urgent need for stringent laws against child labour. Strict laws against child labour can bring long-lasting social changes. In India, child labour is a crime. According to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act of 1986, children below the age are prohibited from working. However, this law is not strictly enforced.
• Today, various NGOs are working in collaboration with local and state governments to implement pro-child laws.
• Education must be made compulsory and accessible to all. In India, the Right to Education is a fundamental right. Yet, a lot of children are deprived of this basic constitutional right. Strict laws and easy access to education can bring a big change, ending child labour in the country.

Also Read: Essay on Summer Vacation in 100, 250 and 350 words

10 Lines to Add in Child Labour Essay

Here are 10 lines on child labour. Feel free to add them to your child labour essay or similar topics.

• Child labour deprives children of their right to a proper childhood.
• It involves children working in harmful environments. 
• It Disrupts their physical and mental well-being.
• Poverty is a major factor pushing children into the workforce at an early age.
• Lack of access to education often perpetuates the cycle of child labour.
• Children engaged in labour are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
• Hazardous conditions in factories and mines pose serious health risks to working children.
• Child labour hinders the development of necessary skills and knowledge for the future.
• Long working hours and limited leisure time impact a child’s social and emotional growth.
• Addressing the root causes, such as poverty and lack of education, is crucial in the fight against child labour.

Ans: Child labour refers to the practice of employing young children in hazardous places like factories and mines. Child labour exploits children for their basic childhood rights and hampers their physical and mental growth. According to the International Labour Organization, the minimum age for work is 15 years. However, some countries have set the minimum working age at 14 years.

Ans: Poverty and Unemployment, Lack of Access to Education, Law of Enforcement Laws, Debt Bondage, etc. are some of the primary causes of child labour.

Ans: Child labour is banned in India. According to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, of 1986, no child below 14 years of age is allowed to work in hazardous or domestic places, like factories, mines or shops.

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Essay on Child Labour

Students are often asked to write an essay on Child Labour in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Child Labour

Introduction.

Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood and is harmful to their physical and mental development.

The main causes of child labour include poverty, lack of education, and inadequate laws. When families struggle financially, children are forced to work to support their families.

Child labour has serious effects. It deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, and morally harmful.

We can combat child labour by spreading awareness, improving education, and strengthening legal frameworks to protect children.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Child Labour
• Paragraph on Child Labour
• Speech on Child Labour

250 Words Essay on Child Labour

Child labour, a deeply embedded social issue, is a manifestation of the profound socio-economic disparities that exist in our society. It is a practice that not only infringes upon the rights of children but also hampers their overall development and future prospects.

Understanding Child Labour

Child labour is defined as the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful. It is a complex issue, intertwined with factors like poverty, lack of educational resources, and systemic social and economic inequalities.

The Global Scenario

Globally, an estimated 152 million children are engaged in child labour, with nearly half involved in hazardous work. Despite international agreements and national laws against child labour, the practice remains widespread, particularly in developing countries. It is a direct violation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Consequences of Child Labour

Child labour robs children of their potential, forcing them into a cycle of poverty and exploitation. It hinders their cognitive and physical development and often exposes them to dangerous conditions, leading to long-term health issues. Moreover, it deprives them of the fundamental right to education, limiting their opportunities for upward social mobility.

Addressing child labour requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on poverty alleviation, access to quality education, and strict enforcement of child labour laws. It is crucial to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation to ensure a better future for these children. It is not just a legal and moral obligation, but also a necessary step towards sustainable development and social justice.

500 Words Essay on Child Labour

Child labour refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful. Despite global efforts to eliminate it, child labour continues to be a significant challenge in many countries.

The Prevalence of Child Labour

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), an estimated 152 million children worldwide are engaged in child labour, with nearly half involved in hazardous work. The majority of these children work in Asia and Africa, often in agriculture, mining, and domestic service. The persistence of child labour is often rooted in poverty and lack of access to quality education.

Child labour has far-reaching effects on individual children, their families, and society at large. It deprives children of their childhood and potential, impeding their physical and mental development. It also perpetuates the cycle of poverty, as these children often grow up without the necessary skills or education to secure better-paying jobs in adulthood.

Legal and Ethical Aspects

Child labour violates international law and standards, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO conventions. Ethically, it infringes on the rights of children to have a safe and nurturing childhood, free from exploitation. Businesses have a responsibility to ensure their supply chains are free from child labour, and consumers can play a part by making ethical purchasing decisions.

Efforts to Combat Child Labour

Efforts to combat child labour range from governmental policies and regulations to non-governmental organization (NGO) initiatives and corporate social responsibility programs. These include enforcing minimum age requirements for employment, improving access to education, and providing social protection for vulnerable families. However, these efforts often face challenges due to limited resources, corruption, and lack of enforcement.

Role of Education

Education is a powerful tool in the fight against child labour. Providing access to quality education can break the cycle of poverty that often drives child labour. Education equips children with the skills they need for a prosperous future, reducing their vulnerability to exploitation.

Child labour is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. While significant progress has been made, much work remains to be done. It is incumbent upon governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals to work collaboratively to eliminate child labour. Only then can we ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience a safe and productive childhood, free from exploitation.

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Causes and Effects of Child Labor Essay

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Introduction

Causes of child labor, effects of child labor.

As a rule, people start their professional careers when they are of full age. In this case, they can work full-time, while employers do not face any significant issues with workers of this group. At the same time, many people start working, either legally or not, when they are younger than 18 years old, which is known as child labor. It should be mentioned at once that there are two representations of this phenomenon in the modern world.

On the one hand, it refers to those underage citizens who have the possibilities and right to work under the law. On the other hand, numerous teenagers become involved in illegal labor activities because harsh external conditions force them. According to van Wormer and Link (2015), it is necessary to distinguish between the two variations above, and the second type of child labor is a severe problem both for developed and developing states. Thus, this phenomenon can have economic, personal, and social reasons, while its effects can be detrimental both for individuals and whole countries.

As has been stated previously, there are many reasons for this phenomenon to exist. Among them, economic matters are said to have the most crucial impact. It is generally accepted that child labor rates are higher in those areas where people are forced to live close to poverty. It can refer to both underdeveloped states and troubled regions of developed countries. J. Sarkar and D. Sarkar (2015) denote that there are secure connections between “child labor and income inequality” (139). As soon as people are forced to struggle in finding means of subsistence, it is not a surprise that many children start working to earn some money. Thus, economic conditions represent the most popular phenomenon that results in child labor.

Social reasons are said to be closely connected to economic ones, but they consider the issue from a different point of view. Even if a child lives in a family with a more or less satisfactory income level, they can become involved in child labor because many people around them do the same. It refers to the fact that the social environment influences individuals heavily. For example, if a child from a secured family appears among representatives of lower classes, there is an opportunity that this child will soon start speaking and acting like these people. In other words, the social reasons stand for the reverse side of the economic causes. When some teenagers do not have enough money, they start working early, and it becomes a destructive example for other children.

Then, a phenomenon of child labor exists and prospers because of personal or family reasons. On the one hand, a parent or parents can get seriously ill or even die, which makes underage people take care of themselves. In this case, finding work seems to be one of the essential steps to survive. On the other hand, many teenagers become involved in child labor because they want it without any apparent economic and social preconditions. However, once they start their early professional careers, it is difficult for them to escape. Even if the working conditions are severe, children cannot leave a job because they appear in a labor trap (Smith 2015). In this case, a single mistake negatively influences many lives.

Thus, the causes above are interconnected, and it makes the situation with child labor severer. As soon as they evoke one another, it is impossible to tell which group of reasons has influenced more children or which of them is more dangerous than others. However, there are no doubts that these causes cannot go unnoticed, and they imply substantial consequences for both underage workers and whole states.

As has been mentioned previously, child labor has numerous effects. Firstly, it refers to health issues that can arise from premature working activities. One should note that the phenomenon under consideration mainly denotes teenagers who are involved in hard labor rather than brainwork in comfortable conditions. Thus, when underage people regularly deal with exhaustible physical activities, it influences their organisms significantly (J. Sarkar and D. Sarkar 2015). As a result, these children witness heart, back, and other related issues.

Furthermore, their moral order will appropriately decrease against the background of health problems. What is more, unless the teenagers change their working activity, the given state of affairs will become only worse for them. As a result, adults will have to deal with consequences, even though the mistakes were made long ago.

The second effect is connected with education, in general, and school enrollment, in particular. It is said that there are “significant negative relations between all forms of child labor and school enrolment” (Putnick and Bornstein 2015, 117). It is proven that those children who are involved in labor activities have neither time nor effort to attend schools. In addition to that, even those unofficially employed teenagers who attend schools show poor results in comparison with those children who focus solely on education. Consequently, if children experience problems with schools, it will be difficult for them to continue their education further, which is necessary for their future successful careers. Thus, the situation is the same because people make severe mistakes while they are young, and these errors influence their further life.

In addition to that, the individual problems above are combined and create crucial issues for whole countries. On the one hand, when many children miss schools, it negatively influences the situation in a country. For example, this state of affairs can create a shortage of educated and skillful specialists in various spheres of economy, technology, scientific area, and others. On the other hand, the situation with aggravated health also has an impact on countries. In this case, a significant number of people with limited physical abilities cannot be advantageous, and when it refers to the youth, it evokes even more crucial issues. Thus, governments are interested in solving the case with child labor.

Child labor is an essential phenomenon in the modern world because many people under 18 years old start their labor activities prematurely. Even though the term also refers to those children who work under the law, a majority of teenagers are involved in labor illegally. It exists due to many reasons, with economic, social, and personal ones are among them. It is difficult to mention which of them has more impact, and the three introduce essential reasons. Furthermore, child labor can be dangerous for individuals because it worsens their health and prevents them from obtaining a decent education. Thus, states struggle from this phenomenon because a significant number of uneducated young people with poor health conditions will result in appropriate problems for a country.

Putnick, Diane L., and Marc H. Bornstein. 2015. “Is Child Labor a Barrier to School Enrollment in Low- and Middle-Income Parties?” International Journal of Educational Development 41: 112-120.

Sarkar, Jayanta, and Dipanwita Sarkar. 2015. “Why Does Child Labor Persist with Declining Poverty?” Economic Inquiry 54 (1): 139–158.

Smith, Stephen C. 2015. Ending Global Poverty: A Guide to What Works. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

Van Wormer, Katherine S., and Rosemary J. Link. 2015. Social Welfare Policy for a Sustainable Future: The U.S. in Global Context. California: SAGE Publications.

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IvyPanda. (2019, December 3). Causes and Effects of Child Labor. https://ivypanda.com/essays/causes-and-effects-of-child-labor/

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Child Labour — An Argument against Child Labour

Negative Side of Child Labor: Arguments

• Categories: Child Labour

About this sample

Words: 1531 |

Published: Jul 17, 2018

Words: 1531 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Table of contents

Child labor essay outline, child labor essay example, introduction.

• Introduction to child labor as a significant issue
• Mention of childhood as an important period of learning and development
• Introduction to the argumentative essay on child labor

Issues of Child Labor

• Prevalence of child labor in many countries
• Reasons for child labor, including lack of prevention and young children's vulnerability
• Impact of child labor on education and future prospects of children

Impact on Children

• Discussion of the age group most affected by child labor (ages 5-14)
• Low wages and exploitation of child laborers
• Importance of education and how child labor denies children this opportunity

Root Causes of Child Labor

• Factors such as poverty, lack of job opportunities for adults, and cultural norms
• Children forced to work to support their families
• Role reversal between parents and children

Dangers and Abuses in Child Labor

• Long working hours, dangerous conditions, and physical/sexual abuse
• Impact on life expectancy and overall well-being of child laborers
• Cultural differences in some developing countries

What Can Be Done?

• Awareness and activism by individuals, organizations, and activists
• The role of organizations like UNICEF in combating child labor
• Steps required to eliminate child labor, including education and birth registration
• Recap of the arguments against child labor
• Importance of taking actions to end child labor for the benefit of all children

Issues of child labour

What can be done, works cited.

• Bales, K. (2005). New Slavery: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO.
• Batstone, D. (2010). Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade and How We Can Fight It. Harper Collins.
• Edmonds, E. V., & Pavcnik, N. (2005). The effect of trade liberalization on child labor. Journal of International Economics, 65(2), 401-419.
• Ennaji, M. (2009). Multilingualism, Cultural Identity, and Education in Morocco. Springer.
• Giannakopoulos, N. (2007). Child labour and human rights: Making children matter. Ashgate.
• ILO. (2017). Global Estimates of Child Labour: Results and trends, 2012-2016. International Labour Organization.
• Levison, D., & Foshay, R. (2012). Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Lloyd, C. B., Dearden, K. A., & Santosh, R. (2005). School quality and educational outcomes in rural Ethiopia. International Journal of Educational Development, 25(5), 525-541.
• United Nations. (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child. United Nations.
• UNICEF. (2005). Child labour and education: Progress, challenges and future directions. United Nations Children's Fund.

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Child Labour Essay | 1400 Words

Outlines of the english essay on child labour.

• Introduction

Culture of Poverty

Illiterate parents.

• Over Population

Government Negligence

• More Illiteracy
• A rise in Social Crimes & Terrorism
• Impacts on Social Development & Progress
• Malnourishment & Health Issues among Children

More Child Labour in Future

Role of government, role of media, child labour essay.

Child labour means ‘perforce work carried out by children for sustenance that deprives them of their childhood and their basic rights such as education, mental and physical nourishment, etc.’ According to the United Nations, children employed under the age of 18 would fall under the definition of child labour.

This phenomenon is very common in third-world or developing countries. It is very common to see small children (young boys) working at workshops, restaurants, industries, mills, shops, service stations, etc. in such countries. On the other hand, young girls are mostly involved in domestic work.

According to the 2011 census, 10.1 million children are working in India. Similarly, around 12.5 million children are working in Pakistan. As per global estimates , 152 million children – out of which 64 million girls and 88 million boys – are in child labour globally.

There are multiple reasons and factors that give rise to child labour. As it is considered an evil in society that gives rise to multiple social issues in the long run; child labour must be curbed from society otherwise it will continue wreaking havoc in multiple ways.

Reasons & Factors Behind Child Labour

There are multiple factors responsible for child labour. However, we will discuss some most prominent factors in this essay.

Poverty is one prominent reason behind child labour. Many poor parents, who cannot afford their daily-based expenses, force their children to do labour and earn money at a very young age.

According to United Nations’ Millennium Development Goal Programme, 6.7 per cent of India’s total population is living below the poverty line. Similarly, according to Asian Development Bank’s report , 24.3 per cent of the total population in Pakistan is living below the poverty line.

Such a huge chunk of the population is unable to provide food, clothes, and shelter to their children; ultimately forcing them to work and earn for the family.

The culture of poverty is also a major factor behind child labour. For example, those parents who are raised doing labour in their childhood implement the same practice in their children too in future.

Poverty culture is a vicious circle that keeps generations to come in the poverty loop. Hence, such parents bring up their children the way they themselves are brought up.

Another major factor behind child labour is uneducated or illiterate parents. An illiterate person does not understand the worth of education. So he abstains from spending money on his children’s education.

According to Statista , illiteracy in Pakistan stands at 41 per cent. Similarly, in India, circa 26 per cent of the total population is illiterate. Illiteracy is further breeding illiteracy in the countries like these by keeping children away from education and forcing them to work at a very early age.

An illiterate person does not know the rights of his child and his responsibilities to him. Rather, he thinks of himself as a master and his child as his servant who is bound to work and earn for him. Similar thinking patterns exist mostly in third-world countries among illiterate people.

Over-Population

Illiteracy and overpopulation go hand in hand. Without any prior thought to future implications, illiterate parents pay no heed to proper family planning. Hence, when it becomes difficult for them to raise or sustain their many children; they force their children to work and earn.

Moreover, the government also fails to make effective policies for a growing population. Owing to budgetary constraints, it fails to provide free education or allowances to all children.

Last but not least, government negligence towards this menace is adding insult to injury. While it is growing, the respective governments seem to be quite oblivious to it. No effective laws or policies exist that could curb child labour. The administration does not even consider it something serious to deal with.

Having discussed the potential reasons for child labour, it is pertinent to discuss its potential consequences.

Consequences of Child Labour

Following are some prominent impacts of child labour on society.

A Rise in Illiteracy Rate

An increase in child labour is akin to an increase in illiteracy in society. Child labour deprives children of their basic right to education.

When these children grow up, they become a burden on society. They lack the fundamental knowledge and skills to play their role in the progress of society.

A Rise in Terrorism and Social Crimes

Such children are vulnerable and can easily play in the hands of terrorist organizations. These terrorist groups use them for their own ulterior motives. Mostly, this class of society is involved in most of the terrorist activities performed. Usually, criminal gangs are always in search of such vulnerable people.

Moreover, this class is the most deprived class in society. Afflicted with this sense of exploitation and deprivation, they utilize every illegal way to obtain money and fulfil their wishes. This gives rise to more heinous crimes in society. Snatching, burglary and theft become common. This is what Social Disorganization Theory and Merton’s Strain Theory in Criminology talk about.

Furthermore, such children are more prone to learn criminal behaviour from their peers. Social Learning Theory in Criminology sheds light on this phenomenon.

Impact on Social Progress & Development

Any country that has a high child labour rate will always be low on the progress scale. As education is the key to progress and development; when children are deprived of education, they fail to become responsible citizens of the country. Rather than playing a positive role in a country’s development, they hamper the progress of the country.

Malnourishment and Health Issues

Child labour impacts the physical and mental health and growth of children. Mostly, such children have to face malnourishment and multiple health issues. In most cases, these children easily become drug addicts which further deteriorates their mental and physical conditions.

A child who has done labour at an early age, when grows up and becomes a father; tends to follow the example of his father. This is what the culture of poverty is all about. This is a vicious circle that continues for ages.

Mostly, that child when becomes a father forces his own children to work and earn for him in most cases. Thus, child labour keeps breeding more child labour in society.

Suggestions/Way Out

Following are some suggestions to root out child labour from society.

First and foremost, it is the responsibility of the government to make effective laws and policies that can uproot child labour. It must make child labour a punishable offence. For that, the government must make laws to punish all those who employ children under 18 years of age.

Moreover, the government must provide free and compulsory education to all children. It should also make arrangements to provide free treatment and health services to children.

Furthermore, the government must also provide allowances to poor parents to support their children.

Role of NGOs

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) can also play a significant role in curbing child labour. They can accumulate funds for all such poor children. On their part, they can establish educational and skill development institutes for poor children.

Moreover, these organizations can also do door-to-door campaigns to raise awareness among parents. They can also educate/guide parents on the rights of children and their proper nourishment.

Last but not least, the media can play a very effective role in eliminating child labour from society. As the media has the largest outreach and can effectively mould the thinking of the public; it can easily make the public aware of the curse of child labour.

To cap it all, child labour must be put on the front burner and dealt with on an urgent basis. As an adage goes, ‘Child is the father of the man’; hence, proper attention must be paid to the upbringing of the children. Children are the future of the nation. Water them today and they will bear fruits for society tomorrow.

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Child Labor Essay: Thesis, Examples, & Writing Guide [2024]

Children have always been apprentices and servants all over human history. However, the Industrial Revolution increased the use of child labor in the world. It became a global problem that is relevant even today when such employment is illegal.

The principal causes of child labor are as follows:

• Poverty, as kids have to work to support their families.
• Lack of access to education or its low quality.
• Culture, as some countries encourage kids to earn their pocket money.
• The growth of a low-paying informal economy.

The information you will find in this article can help you write a good child labor essay without any problems. Our professional writers gathered facts and tips that can help you with a paper on this topic. Nail your essay writing about child labor: thesis statement, introduction, and conclusion.

• 📜 How to Write
• ❓ Brief History
• ⚖️ Laws Today

🔗 References

📜 child labor argument essay: how to write & example.

Let’s start with tips on writing a child labor essay. Its structure depends on the type of your assignment : argumentative, persuasive, for and against child labor essay.

There’s nothing new in the essay structure: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, you should pay close attention to your thesis statement about child labor as the subject is quite delicate.

Below you’ll find the essential information on what to write in your assignment:

• The introduction may present the general meaning of the term “child labor.” In this part of your child labor essay, you may say that child labor means the work of children that aims at exploiting and harming them.
• The thesis statement should reveal your position on the issue. It’s the central idea of the paper. It may sound like “Not every kind of child labor is supposed to be exploitive.” Think about the phrasing of your child labor thesis statement.
• What are the reasons for the issue today? In this part of your essay, you have to present why child labor is widely-spread nowadays. Are there some positive factors for it?
• What jobs can be done by children? Give a list of possible careers, and present short descriptions of the duties children have to fulfill. Explain your job choice.
• How can we reduce child labor? Elaborate on why taking care of our young generation is crucial. What would you offer to reduce child labor?
• The conclusion of child labor essays should summarize everything that was said in the body. It should present the final idea that you have come up with while conducting your research. Make a point by approving or disapproving your thesis statement about child labor. Don’t repeat the central idea, but rather restate it and develop. If you’re not sure about what to write, you can use a summary machine to help you out.

We hope that now you have some ideas on what to write about. Nevertheless, if you still need some help with writing , you can check the child labor essay example:

For more facts to use in your essay, see the following sections.

❓ Brief History of Child Labor

The involvement of child labor became increasingly popular during the Industrial revolution . The factories ensured the growth in the overall standard of living, a sharp drop in the mortality rate in cities, including children. It caused unprecedented population growth. And with the help of machines, even physically weak people could work.

Operating power-driven machines did not require high qualification, but the child’s small height often was a better option. They could be installed quite closely to save the factory space. Some children worked in coal mines, where adults couldn’t fit.

Thus, child labor has become an indispensable and integral part of the economy.

Even special children’s professions were formed. For example, there were scavengers and scribes in the cotton factories:

• Scavengers had to be small and fast. They crawled all day under the spinning looms, collected the fallen pieces of cotton, inhaled cotton dust, and dodged the working mechanisms.
• Scribes walked around the shop and sorted the threads that ran along with the machine. It was estimated that the child was passing about 24 miles during the working day.

Needless to say, that child labor conditions were far from perfect. The situation began to change in the early 1900s during social reform in the United States. The restricting child labor laws were passed as part of the progressive movement.

During the Great Depression , child labor issues raised again because of lacking open jobs to adults. The National Industrial Recovery Act codes significantly reduced child labor in America.

What about today?

Child labor today in wealthy countries accounts for 1% of the workforce. At the same time, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) , the highest ranges of working children are in Africa (32%), Asia (22%), and Latin America (17%).

🧒 Causes of Child Labor

Speaking about child labor, you should understand the factors that lead to children employment:

• Poverty . According to ILO, it is one of the significant causes of child labor. Children have to work to support their families. Sometimes up to 40% of a household income is the child’s salary.
• Lack of access to education . An absence of school or its distant location and low quality of education affect children around the globe. Unaffordable tuition in local schools drives children to harmful labor.
• Culture . In some developing countries, it is common for children and adolescents to help their parents in a family business. They earn their pocket money because people believe such work allows children to develop skills and build character. Other cultures value girls’ education less than boys, so girls are pushed to provide domestic services.
• The growth of a low-paying informal economy. This macroeconomic factor explains acceptability and demand for child labor.

⚖️ Child Labor Laws Today

Don’t forget to mention current labor laws and regulations in your child labor assignment. You can mention slavery and human trafficking linked to the issue even today. You may refer to international laws or analyze legislative acts in different countries.

For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act determines age restrictions, jobs allowed for teenagers, and necessary paperwork.

Other acts, programs, and initiatives you should mention are:

• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
• Minimum Age Convention
• Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry) Convention
• Australia’s and UK’s Modern Slavery Acts
• National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020
• International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor
• Child Labor Deterrence Act of 1993

When writing about child laws against child labor, you may also explore the best and worst countries for children’s work conditions.

You may also mention child labor incidents:

• UNICEF’s report on using enslaved children in cocoa production.
• Child labor in Africa’s cobalt, copper, and gold mines.
• GAP, Zara, Primark, H&M’s products made with cotton, which may have been picked by children. You can also find extra information on companies that use child labor.
• Child labor in silk weaving factories.

Child Labor Essay Examples

• Child labor’s negative impact on human development . 
• Child labor and social worker interventions . 
• Child labor in the fashion industry . 
• Child labor, its forms, and disputable issues . 
• Ethics in business: child labor in the chocolate industry.  
• Samsung and child labor: business ethics case . 
• Child labor’s role in westernization and globalization . 

Child Labor Essay Topics

• Analyze the connection between poverty and child labor. 
• Discuss the reasons for the high trafficking of children rates.  
• Explain why child labor is among topical issues in the modern world.  
• What can be done to reduce child trafficking rates?  
• Explore the ways labor unions help to fight child labor.   
• Describe the child labor laws around the world and evaluate their effectiveness.  
• Analyze the cases of child exploitation in sweatshops in developing countries. 
• Discuss the social issues connected with child labor .   
• Examine the impact of child labor on children’s physical and mental health.  
• The role of UNICEF in the abolition of child labor and exploitation.  
• Child trafficking as a primary human rights issue.  
• The absence of adequate punishment is the reason for increased child slavery rates.
•  Analyze if current measures to prevent child exploitation are sufficient enough.  
• Discuss how social media platforms facilitate child trafficking .   
• Examine the social impact of child exploitation and trafficking .  
• Describe how the attitude towards child labor depends on the specifics of the country’s culture.  
• Explore how Zara’s use of child labor influenced its public image.  
• What organizations deal with commercial child exploitation prevention?  
• What can a healthcare professional do to help the victims of child exploitation ?  
• Analyze the urgency of creating an effective program for the recovery of child trafficking victims .  
• Discuss the laws regulating child labor in different countries.  
• Explain the connection between the level of education in the country and child labor rates.  
• The role of parents in the success of child labor and exploitation prevention.  
• Explore the history of child labor.  
• Can labor be the way to teach children about basic life skills?  
• The disastrous effect of child trafficking on the mental health of its victims.  
• Discuss the problems connected with child trafficking and exploitation investigation.
• Examine the cases of using child soldiers in modern armed conflicts.  
• Analyze the role of international organizations in saving child soldiers.  
• The use of abducted children as frontline soldiers in Uganda.  
• What can be done to overcome the issue of child soldiers in the near future?  
• Discuss what fashion brands can do to prevent the use of child labor in overseas sweatshops .
• Explain why young workers are more vulnerable to exploitation compared to adult workers.
•  Explore the issue of child labor and exploitation in the Industrial Age .  
• Analyze how child labor affects the education of children . 
• Describe the business ethics of child labor.  
• Who is responsible for the use of child labor at tea plantations?   
• Examine the reasons for using child labor in mining in the 19 th century . 
• Employing child labor as one of the most widespread violations of children’s rights .
• Discuss the motives that push children to participate in labor.  

How old were you when you got your first job? Was it hard? Share with us your experience and advice in the comments below! Send this page to those who might require help with their child labor essay.

• Child Labor Issues and Challenges: NIH
• Child Labor: World Vision Australia
• Essay Structure: Harvard University
• Child Labor: Human Rights Watch
• Child Labor: Laws & Definition: History.com
• Child Labor: Our World in Data
• History of Child Labor in the United States, Part 1: Little Children Working: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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Essay on Child Labour for Students in English [500 Words Essay]

December 10, 2020 by Sandeep

Essay on Child Labour: Illegal exploitation of a child for financial or other gains is known as Child labour. It is a crime to employ children below the age of 14 years. According to UNICEF, 13% of the total workforce in India are children. Child labour is not only illegal but also detrimental & unfortunate for a society.

Essay on Child Labour 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Child Labour Essay in English, written in easy and simple words for class 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 school students.

“Child slavery is a crime against humanity. Humanity itself is at stake here. A lot of work still remains, but I will see the end of child labour in my lifetime”. – Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate

Child Labour is defined as “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development,” by Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child. It refers to the illegal exploitation of a child for financial or other gains. Data from UNICEF shows that more than 10 million children in India are part of the workforce. This constitutes 13% of the total workforce.

The term is often used by news channels or movies to talk about children who are forced to work from a budding age.  Children from poor families are forced to work and fend for themselves and their families. It is a crime to send or employ children below the age of 14 in any industry or factory. Thus, various restrictions and limitations have been put on children who work. The legally acceptable age for employing children is 15.

Child Labour is not only unfortunate but also detrimental to society. It robs from children, the opportunity to go to school, and getting an education. The right to education is a fundamental right of every child. It also prevents them from growing up in a conducive environment. Further, such children are burdened by responsibilities and hence cannot have a proper childhood. Research has also proven that their physical and mental development is hampered. Though illegal, the menace is far from being eradicated.

Causes of Child Labour

It is important to identify the causes of child labour to be able to deal with it effectively. Some causes are region-specific, while others are universal. Here are a few common causes of child labour:

• Increasing levels of unemployment and poverty, especially in developing countries, are the primary causes of child labour. About 1/4th of the world’s population is currently categorised under the global poverty line. When families do not have enough money to sustain, they force children into work. If adults cannot find work or are sick, the responsibility of earning a livelihood comes down to children.
• Lack of social security pushes people into a cycle of poverty, which inevitably leads to child labour. The increasing rich-poor divide and privatisation of the organisation have led to the concentration of wealth in the hands of few. Small children are in situations where they must work in order to earn two meals a day.
• The lack of awareness about the importance of education and very little accessibility has also played a role in contributing to child labour. Without the opportunity to obtain an education, children are pushed into working. Uneducated parents think of short-term benefits and send their children to work so they can survive in the present.
• Industries are not efficiently regulated. Multiple factories prefer children as labourers because they have to pay lesser to children than to adults for the same work. This decreases labour expenses for those industries. Many factories which possess significant health hazard, like the firecrackers industry also prefer children. Children are also easier to manipulate and influence. Thus, factory owners often take advantage of children’s circumstances for their profit.
• Children are also sent to work for non-monetary payments like rice or wheat. This is due to the vicious nature of hunger. Often, after the death or illness of a parent, the eldest children are forced to take up the burden of the rest of the family. Most of the social welfare schemes in developing and developed countries do not reach the poor due to factors like corruption. Thus, the poor are often left directionless, with child labour being necessary for their survival.
• Another major reason is the lack of effective implementation of child labour related laws. Many industries openly indulge in employing children without fear of law. The police and law enforcement agencies have failed miserably at being able to create fear about the use of children for labour. Even if the state tracks down child labour rackets, it is unable to provide an alternative to child labour for those families. This pushes children back to work.
• Due to the increased demand for child labourers, child trafficking rackets often sell children to people who will extract work from them. Begging is yet another form of child labour that is often forced and ignored.

Measures to Eradicate Child Labour

As a society, it is our collective responsibility to find methods by which we can get closer to eradicating child labour. This requires significant support and effort from the government, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and the general public. Here are some ideas to think about:

• Creation of communities or unions that are specifically aimed at eradication of child labour can be effective. This can be a citizen initiative supported by the government. These communities’ sole objective will be to identify child labourers and find ways to rehabilitate them. It can also further indulge in involving law enforcement agencies to ensure that the guilty are punished.
• Creating social awareness about the presence and downfalls of child labour is necessary. Once people understand the problems of child labour, they can be instigated to boycott any shop or establishment that hires children. This way, these industries can be discouraged from employing child labourers.
• Education should be a nation’s priority. Economic and military development should not come at the cost of social wellness schemes. The poor should be made aware of the benefits of education, along with ensuring that every village and town has access to free and compulsory education.
• Creation of employment opportunities is also essential to combat child labour. If an adult can earn sufficient income for the family, the need to send the children to work is reduced. This involves, in particular, the creation of unskilled labour. A country must also take measures to reduce the rich-poor divide.
• Population control measures are also necessary in order to ensure that we reduce family sizes. This leads to a family having lesser mouths to feed. NGOs and the government must give family planning attention.
• Effective and strict implementation of laws is necessary to ensure that factory owners do not try to hire child labourers. Measures to combat child trafficking are also significant. The government must focus on the depth and long-term impact of the problem and create practical and enforceable laws.

“When the lives and the rights of children are at stake, there must be no silent witnesses,” said Carol Bellamy. It is true that we cannot estimate the real number of child workers in the country. But it is important that we, as a society, take responsibility to acknowledge, identify, and combat the problem.

10 Lines on Child Labour Essay

• Child labour refers to the exploitation of children by forcing them to work or taking advantage of poor children.
• It interferes with their ability to have a normal happy childhood and can lead to trauma.
• A lot of child labourers are victims of child trafficking and are also exposed to abuse.
• Although child labour is illegal, it still takes place in sectors that are unmonitored or left unregulated.
• A lot of the work that child labourers are forced to do can be dangerous and detrimental to their physical and mental health .
• In such cases, businesses are basically taking advantage of helpless and engaging in immoral acts.
• A lot of these businesses choose child labourers because they either have to pay them very less or sometimes not at all.
• The people put in charge of making sure the children work are often very cruel to them and hand out punishments if they do not work according to their requirements.
• Because it is unmonitored, the children are forced to work for long hours without breaks and are fed very little food.
• Child labour is still a prevalent issue in society today, and that’s why it is important to monitor business practices carefully.

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• Child labour

Nearly 1 in 10 children are subjected to child labour worldwide, with some forced into hazardous work through trafficking.

Economic hardship exacts a toll on millions of families worldwide – and in some places, it comes at the price of a child’s safety.

Roughly  160 million children were subjected to child labour at the beginning of 2020, with 9 million additional children at risk due to the impact of COVID-19. This accounts for nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. Almost half of them are in hazardous work that directly endangers their health and development.

Children may be driven into work for various reasons. Most often, child labour occurs when families face financial challenges or uncertainty – whether due to poverty, sudden illness of a caregiver, or job loss of a primary wage earner.

The consequences are staggering. Child labour can result in extreme bodily and mental harm, and even death. It can lead to slavery and sexual or economic exploitation. And in nearly every case, it cuts children off from schooling and health care, restricting their fundamental rights.

Migrant and refugee children – many of whom have been uprooted by conflict, disaster or poverty – also risk being forced into work and even trafficked, especially if they are migrating alone or taking irregular routes with their families.

Trafficked children are often subjected to violence, abuse and other human rights violations. For girls, the threat of sexual exploitation looms large, while boys may be exploited by armed forces or groups .

Whatever the cause, child labour compounds social inequality and discrimination. Unlike activities that help children develop, such as contributing to light housework or taking on a job during school holidays, child labour limits access to education and harms a child’s physical, mental and social growth. Especially for girls, the “triple burden” of school, work and household chores heightens their risk of falling behind, making them even more vulnerable to poverty and exclusion.

UNICEF works to prevent and respond to child labour, especially by strengthening the social service workforce . Social service workers play a key role in recognizing, preventing and managing risks that can lead to child labour. Our efforts develop and support the workforce to respond to potential situations of child labour through case management and social protection services, including early identification, registration and interim rehabilitation and referral services.

We also focus on strengthening parenting and community education initiatives to address harmful social norms that perpetuate child labour, while partnering with national and local governments to prevent violence, exploitation and abuse.

With the International Labour Organization (ILO), we help to collect data that make child labour visible to decision makers. These efforts complement our work to strengthen birth registration systems, ensuring that all children possess birth certificates that prove they are under the legal age to work.

Children removed from labour must also be safely returned to school or training. UNICEF supports increased access to quality education and provides comprehensive social services to keep children protected and with their families.

To address child trafficking, we work with United Nations partners and the European Union on initiatives that reach 13 countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Learn more about child labour

COVID-19 and child labour

A time of crisis, a time to act

Child labour and responsible business conduct

Guidance to businesses, policy makers and other stakeholders to advance progress towards SDG Target 8.7 on eradicating child labour by 2025

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell's remarks at the World Day Against Child Labour High-Level Side Event

Charting the course

Embedding children's rights in responsible business conduct

Related resources

Action against child labour | case studies, child labour: global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward, child labour: unicef data, inter-agency coordination group against trafficking in persons, unicef child protection advocacy brief: child labour, iom handbook for protection and assistance for migrants vulnerable to violence, exploitation and abuse, guidelines to strengthen the social service workforce for child protection.

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Child Labour Essay for School Students in English Essay on Child Labour

Child Labour Essay: We live in an age where many of us are privileged enough to enjoy technology-driven amenities or

Reported by Pankaj Bhatt

Published on 25 April 2024

Child Labour Essay: We live in an age where many of us are privileged enough to enjoy technology-driven amenities or acquire education from a proper school, or satisfy our hunger thrice a day. But, there are still some children out in the world who have not even relished a fraction of such comforts.

Every coin has two phases as with the innocence of childhood. One is enjoying his burgers at McDonald’s while the other is thinking about whether he will get the bread tonight. One is playing with PS at his home while the other is toiling under the sun. One is driving to the school in a brand-new Mercedes while the other is still struggling with counting the marbles.

Children are the blooming flowers in the garden of humanity. Childhood is the depiction of innocence, love and pure bliss. This innocence and childhood must never be stolen from any child.

Child labour is the exploitation of one’s childhood. It is a punishable crime. India stands in the second position for the highest number of child labourers in the world after Africa.

“ A child is meant to learn, not to earn. ” – Jyoti Basu

Child Labour Essay for Students (Long)

Introduction

Economically active children under the age of 14 years are referred to as child labour . It is the illegal exploitation of the little hands. Such tiny tots are denied their basic human rights such as the right to education, right to speech, right to proper healthcare, etc.

Child Labour, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) , is any kind of work or employment that deprives children of their childhood. Anything that exploits the potential and dignity of the child; anything that harms and intervenes in the physical and mental development of the child is referred to as child labour.

In the pursuit of earning a livelihood, many children are compelled to work at such a tender age. It affects their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. According to ILO statistics of 2017, out of 218 million child labourers all around the world, 152 million children are engaged in hazardous work which might cost them their lives.

Child labour is a global issue and requires undivided attention from the authorities. World Day against Child Labour is celebrated on June 12th of every year to highlight the issues and challenges towards child labour. The theme for the day was “Protect children from child labour, now more than ever” . Children are the assets of the country and they need to be protected at all costs.

Types of Child Labour

1. domestic child labourers.

The children who are indulged in the activities of providing domestic help to wealthy families. Such children (especially girls) look after the daily household chores. They are either paid very less or not paid at all. It is often observed that girls serving as domestic helpers are sexually abused by the men of the family.

2. Industrial Child Labourers

Children who are working in industries, factories, plantations, coal mines, etc. are considered under this category. Such child labourers work under very hazardous conditions which affect their health in the long run. For example, children working in bangle industries tend to lose their eyesight permanently after working for a few years continuously.

3. Debt Bondage

The child labourers who are working to pay off the inherited debt of their fathers. The extent to which such child labourers are exploited is immense. Some cruel money lenders take unfair advantage of the kids and make them work for the whole day with very less or no pay.

4. Child Trafficking

In many remote areas of the country, many young boys and girls are traded for money. The buyers either engage them in forced labour or sexual activities. Sometimes, these children are also forced into pornography and drug trafficking.

Causes of Child labour

Child Labour occurs due to numerous reasons. When we know the root problem of the cause, we can surely fight it better.

One of the most common and crucial reasons for child labour is poverty. For deprived households, even the addition of little money to the income is very critical. To feed the hunger of the whole family, the parents push their children to earn money and lend them a helping hand. The high rate of unemployment existing within the country also leads to an increase in the number of child labourers. The rural poor households consist of very big families. with the limited resources available, it becomes difficult for them to sustain the whole family’s needs. Hence, many boys work in agricultural fields, coal mines, glass factories, etc. and girls are hired by richer households as domestic helpers.

The illiteracy rate in the poor strata of society is quite prominent. Consequently, they do not understand the importance of education. The children are not encouraged to pursue their studies and instead are expected to support the family financially. The lack of education and enough awareness leads to the exploitation of children’s basic rights.

Slavery: A Harsh Reality

Many industrialists hire child labourers in their factories at lower wages in the pursuit of saving their capital. Even some shopkeepers hire children of tender age to work for them at half of the wages. There is also a sense of satisfaction and security in such employers about the fewer chances of theft or misappropriation of money. Also, people avail loans from money lenders due to poor socio-economic statuses and their incapability to repay the amount, the money lenders hire the children of such loan takers to work at their agricultural lands or farms and pay off the debt.

Many girls are deprived of education because their parents think they will leave their homes after marriage. Therefore, the parents do not consider using their limited resources on such girls and hence force them to work as domestic help in nearby households.

Effects of Child Labour

Child labour is a social evil. It affects the life of the children miserably. The engaged children lose everything in the process. It is very important to enjoy every phase of life, but such children’s childhood is lost between the torture and hardships of the life they are going through. It adversely affects their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

• It significantly extends the illiteracy and lack of awareness among the generations.
• It leads to malnutrition among the children.
• Such children are found to be addicted to drugs and depression.
• The dignity and morals of the children are compromised.
• They become mature at a very tender age, which is not healthy.

Child labour is a very vicious crime. It not only affects the development of the child but also hinders the economic growth of the nation.

Child Labour Laws

India has taken some very prevalent initiatives towards the iniquitous acts of child labour. Several Child Labour laws have been introduced since 1933 to control child labour. Some of the major laws against child labour are as follows:

The Factories Act of 1948

This Act against child labour prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 years in any industrial factory. The Act also made some provisions on the working hours and tenure of the employed pre-adults aged between 15-18 years.

The Mines Act of 1952

Since mining is a very hazardous occupation, therefore, any child under the age of 16 years is not allowed in any part of the mine below the ground.

The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

The Act strictly prohibits the employment of children under 14 years of age. It also regulates laws related to the employment, and working conditions of employed children and formulates a list of prohibited employment. The article has been amended twice in 2006 and 2008.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) of Children Act, 2000

Under this law, employers who employ children in any hazardous occupation or any form of bondage are subject to a prison term. This Act is a check on the other acts for those who do not follow the laws.

The Right to Free and Compulsory Act, 2009

This law obligates free and compulsory education for children of the age group 6-14 years. 25% of seats will be reserved for underprivileged children in every private school.

Obstacles in the effective implementation of child labour laws

The major issues occurring in the way of proper and effective implementation of the child labour laws are:

• Lack of awareness
• Low illiteracy rates
• Unemployment
• Inefficient administration
• Lack of quality education

Eradication of Child Labour

The Indian government in association with the Ministry of Women and Child Development introduced a scheme called the “National Child Labour Project Scheme”. The NCLP scheme has been initiated to reinstate the child labourers who are trapped in hazardous occupations and facilitate them with education and various vocational program training.

In 2017, an online portal, PENCIL was established for the effective implementation of the NCPL scheme. PENCIL stands for Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour . It has a complaint corner through which anyone can file a complaint against any violation of child labour acts.

Furthermore, to stop the evil practices of child labour, the following measures must be implemented immediately.

• Child Labour Laws:- India has adopted many laws and policies against child labour. More strict and stringent actions must be taken against those who violate them. Such laws and policies are designed to safeguard the innocence of children and help them in preserving it.
• Employment opportunities:- The root cause of the child labour problem is poverty due to lack of employment. If more employment prospects are open for poor rural households, the rate of child labour will automatically deteriorate.
• Educational facilitates:- The parents do not value education because they do not understand its importance. There must be enough educational facilities available in the neighbourhood so that the children are provided with basic education and acknowledge its importance.
• Spread Awareness:- The parents, as well as the children, must be given awareness about the ill effects of child labour and human rights with adequate statistics.
• Support NGOs:- Many NGOs like CRY, Care India, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, etc. are working in the field to spread awareness about the laws and policies and child labour and help those who are trapped in this vicious cycle.

2014 Nobel Peace Laureate, Kailash Satyarathi quoted “Each time I free a child, I feel it is something closer to God. ” Children are the blessing of God to a family, the hope and future of the nation. We must save the innocence that prevails within them. We, as a society, must come forward together to give such children an opportunity to enjoy their childhood as children and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other kids of their generation.

Pankaj Bhatt

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The Hidden Toll of Child Labor during the Industrial Revolution

This essay about the Industrial Revolution highlights the grim reality of child labor during this period. While the era brought significant technological and economic advancements, it also led to the widespread exploitation of children in factories and mines. Children were forced to work long hours in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, often for minimal pay. The lack of education and social interaction took a severe toll on their physical and psychological well-being. Social reformers and activists eventually pushed for changes, leading to laws that regulated child labor and improved conditions. The essay underscores the importance of remembering these hardships to ensure that future economic progress does not come at the expense of vulnerable populations.

How it works

Between the late 18th and the early 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution drastically altered both the economy and technology. It brought about fast growth and affluence while upending entire sectors. However, there was a far darker side to progress hidden below the glossy exterior: the widespread use of child labor. Children were frequently the ones who paid the price, putting in long hours in hazardous conditions to keep up with the rising demand in factories and mines. That era’s most troubling feature is its exploitation.

Factories and mines needed a cheap, reliable workforce, and children were the perfect fit. Their small size and agile fingers made them ideal for many jobs in textiles, coal mining, and manufacturing. In textile mills, kids were put to work running machines, cleaning, and handling materials. Their small stature meant they could get into tight spaces to fix machinery—jobs that adults couldn’t do as easily.

The conditions these children worked under were horrific. Many labored for up to 16 hours a day, six days a week, with barely any breaks. Factories were often hazardous, with unguarded machines, poor ventilation, and harmful substances in the air. In coal mines, young boys called “trappers” sat alone in the dark, opening and closing ventilation doors for hours. The physical toll was brutal, leading to respiratory problems, stunted growth, and chronic injuries.

The psychological impact was equally devastating. Stripped of a proper childhood, education, and social interaction, these children often suffered severe emotional and mental stress. Missing out on school meant many grew up without basic literacy and numeracy skills, which severely limited their future opportunities. The monotonous, grueling work fostered a sense of hopelessness and despair.

People did notice the exploitation of child labor, and it sparked a significant social and political movement to reform labor laws. Philanthropists, social reformers, and early labor unions fought hard to raise awareness about the plight of child workers and to push for legislative change. Charles Dickens, for example, used his novels to shine a light on the harsh realities of child labor, which helped sway public opinion.

These efforts eventually led to legislative measures aimed at protecting child workers. The Factory Acts, introduced in the early 19th century, were some of the first laws to regulate child labor. The 1833 Factory Act, for instance, set a minimum age of nine for child workers in textile mills and limited their work hours to nine per day. While these laws were a step in the right direction, enforcement was often lax, and industries found ways to get around them.

Despite these hurdles, the movement for labor reform gained momentum over time, leading to more comprehensive laws and better enforcement. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, compulsory education laws and stricter labor regulations had significantly reduced child labor in industrialized countries. However, this period serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of industrial progress and the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation.

Even today, child labor hasn’t been entirely eradicated. Though the context has changed, millions of children worldwide are still exploited for labor in various sectors. The lessons from the Industrial Revolution remind us of the need for constant vigilance, advocacy, and robust legal frameworks to ensure that children’s rights and well-being are protected.

Although the Industrial Revolution brought about a great deal of improvement and change, it also had a significant human cost. One of the scariest things about that time period is how common it was to utilize child labor, underscoring the necessity to strike a balance between social justice and economic progress. By keeping in mind and comprehending the struggles that child laborers endured during this time, we may work toward a day where no kid has to experience this kind of exploitation.

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Pennsylvania's Child Labor Act: Protecting Young Workers This Summer

HARRISBURG, PA — As summer break approaches and teenagers seek employment opportunities, Secretary Nancy A. Walker of the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) reminds Pennsylvanians about the protections offered to workers under the age of 18 by the state’s Child Labor Act.

The Child Labor Act, enforced by L&I’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance (BLLC), aims to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of minors employed in Pennsylvania. It does this by limiting employment in certain establishments and occupations, restricting work hours, regulating working conditions, and requiring work permits for children hired for jobs.

In 2023, BLLC investigators saw a 43 percent increase in child labor cases, rising from 402 cases in 2022 to 574 cases in 2023. Overall, BLLC investigated more than 5,200 complaints of alleged labor law violations—a 27 percent increase from the previous year.

The Child Labor Act has specific provisions for three age categories: under 14, 14-15, and 16-17. For all minors under 16, a written statement from the parent or guardian is necessary, acknowledging the duties and hours of employment and granting permission to work. Minors also need to obtain a work permit from their school district.

No minors, except those involved in newspaper delivery, may work more than six consecutive days. Additionally, all minors must receive a 30-minute meal period on or before five consecutive hours of work. Full- or part-time minors must be paid at least the minimum wage, currently $7.25 per hour.

Under-14 Work Restrictions

Children under 14 can work only under specific circumstances, such as on a family farm, in domestic service (babysitting, yard work, household chores), or as newspaper carriers, caddies, or entertainment performers with special permits.

14-15-Year-Olds Work Restrictions

When school is not in session, 14 and 15-year-olds can work between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., no more than eight hours a day, or 40 hours a week. Different standards may apply for specific jobs like newspaper delivery, caddying, and some farm work. During the school year, they can work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., no more than three hours a day on school days, or 18 hours a school week. This work must not interfere with school attendance.

16-17-Year-Olds Work Restrictions

When school is not in session, 16 and 17-year-olds can work between 6 a.m. and 1 a.m., no more than 10 hours a day, or 48 hours a week. Employers cannot require them to work more than 45 hours a week. During the school year, they can work between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m., no more than eight hours a day on school days, or 28 hours a school week. This work must not interfere with school attendance.

Prohibited Occupations for All Minors

Minors are prohibited from working in hazardous environments, as designated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Prohibited occupations include those that involve dangerous equipment, weapons, or activities such as:

• Crane operation
• Electrical work
• Woodworking
• Wrecking and demolition

A comprehensive list of prohibited occupations for all minors in Pennsylvania is available on L&I’s website .

The importance of these regulations cannot be overstated. They ensure that young workers are protected from exploitation and hazardous conditions, allowing them to gain work experience safely. The rise in labor law violations highlights the need for vigilance in enforcing these rules.

As teenagers look for summer jobs, it is crucial for employers, parents, and young workers themselves to understand and comply with these laws. This not only protects the well-being of young workers but also fosters a safe and fair working environment for all.

By adhering to the Child Labor Act, Pennsylvania continues to prioritize the health and safety of its youngest workforce members, ensuring that their introduction to the labor market is both positive and secure.

These children were living in a foster home when Russian troops invaded Ukraine.

Then a group of Russian officials came and took them.

Over the next year, the authorities filed paperwork to put many of them up for adoption.

Russian officials say the children were rescued. Experts say what happened to them could amount to a war crime.

46 Children Were Taken From Ukraine. Many Are Up for Adoption in Russia.

Supported by

The New York Times traced how a web of officials and politicians aligned with President Vladimir V. Putin’s party carried out a campaign to permanently transfer Ukrainian children from Kherson.

• Share full article

By Yousur Al-Hlou and Masha Froliak

Yousur Al-Hlou and Masha Froliak have investigated atrocities committed by Russian forces in Ukraine since 2022. They traveled across southern Ukraine to report this story.

As news of Russia’s invasion spread through Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Dr. Natalia Lukina was waiting for a taxi at her home.

It was 6 a.m., and she was eager to get to work at Kherson Children’s Home, a state-run foster home for institutionalized children with special needs, where she served as a doctor.

By the time she arrived, the rumble of artillery fired by Russian troops advancing on Kherson City, the region’s capital, was already reverberating through the hallways. The doctor and her fellow caregivers faced a wrenching dilemma: how to protect the dozens of vulnerable children.

They were all infants and toddlers, and some had serious disabilities, such as cerebral palsy. Some had living parents who retained limited custody over them, while others had been removed from troubled homes or abandoned.

“Who else would have stayed behind to look after them?” Dr. Lukina said about her decision to remain with the children. “Imagine if we all turned our backs and left?”

Olena Korniyenko, the director of the foster home and the children’s legal guardian, had prepared emergency bags for the children two weeks earlier, and she had stocked the home with boxes of food, water and diapers.

But the building was not equipped to withstand gunfire or shelling, and the police had already fled the city. When Ms. Korniyenko called the police chief to ask about using their underground bunker just 300 yards away, he warned her that the station would become a military target.

With limited options, Ms. Korniyenko searched online for a map of nearby bomb shelters and found one within walking distance.

Amid exchanges of fire, the staff carried the children and their mattresses by foot and stroller to a concrete basement, taking with them food, medicine, electric pumps and feeding tubes for the sickest children.

A local pastor got word of their plight later that day and urged the foster home staff to take the children to his church, where he could at least provide heat, electricity and food.

So the staff moved the children again, sweeping them into hiding in the basement of Holhofa Church. They stacked boxes of diapers in the windows to keep anyone from seeing in.

One nurse, Kateryna Sirodchuk, said they were afraid that Russian forces would take the children away. “We feared that they could come and take everything under their control,” she said.

And their fears soon came true: On April 25, 2022, Russian officials found the children and took them under their own authority, eventually moving them 180 miles from home — all while filming them for propaganda.

Evidence shows the transfer was part of the broader, systematic campaign by President Vladimir V. Putin and his political allies to strip the most vulnerable victims of the war of their Ukrainian identity. The New York Times reviewed Russian social media posts; obtained photos, videos, text messages and documents; and interviewed more than 110 caregivers, legal experts and Russian and Ukrainian officials to trace the lives and movement of the children as they were taken into Russian custody.

What happened to them next, legal experts say, may amount to a war crime.

Two weeks into the invasion, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, sat across from Mr. Putin in a televised meeting to ask for his help.

She wanted to resettle young Ukrainian children from child-care facilities caught in the crossfire of war. He promised to remove any legal “red tape” so they could be placed permanently with Russian families.

In pronouncements before the invasion, Mr. Putin had made clear that he sought the complete cultural assimilation of Ukrainian towns and cities he believed were historically Russian. And now, as the officials shook hands, a plan for the permanent transfer and deportation of their youngest residents was set in motion.

“They believe deep down that the children are Russian,” said Serhii Plokhy, a Ukraine historian at Harvard University. “You speed up their Russian-ness by kidnapping them.”

For weeks, Ukrainian officials and police officers had struggled to find a way to evacuate the children from Holhofa Church, which was by then occupied territory. They blamed Russia for refusing to open a humanitarian corridor to allow citizens to flee from the shelling.

In April, a Ukrainian commissioner made a plea on Telegram to help rescue them, publicizing their location in the process.

Hours later, armed men led by a Russian official who called himself “Navigator” showed up at the church and demanded that the children be returned to Kherson Children’s Home. Cameras from a Crimea-based propaganda outlet filmed their arrival, and the resulting story accused the Ukrainian authorities of kidnapping the children.

The pastor protested, claiming the children were safer in his basement. But the caregivers had little choice but to obey the orders and take the children back to the foster home in Kherson City, where occupation forces had a tighter grip.

Dr. Lukina later said the move made her suspect that the children would eventually be taken from Ukraine, because “if they didn’t need those children, why would they have made us leave the church?”

In the months that followed, entourages of armed men in Russian military uniforms made frequent, unannounced visits to the foster home to monitor the children and their caregivers.

“They asked, ‘Are all of the children here?’” Dr. Lukina recalled. “We understood that if the children weren’t there, we would be gone, too.”

By the spring of 2022, the occupation of Kherson had become a template for the forced assimilation of a Ukrainian city and its residents: A new occupation government was appointed in Kherson, and a Russian flag was raised outside the foster home, where politicians and armed soldiers made trips delivering aid to the children.

Dr. Lukina scoffed when she recalled some of the impractical donations, which included Russian textbooks and huge packs of soda.

“You know that children can’t drink soda, right?” she said. “They probably just wanted to show the world that they were saving Ukrainian children.”

For the next several months, Russian officials documented their efforts to help the children on their popular channels on Telegram, a messaging platform used widely in Russia.

“Navigator,” the man who had ordered the children removed from the church, visited the foster home repeatedly. He would later be identified as Igor Kastyukevich, a Russian member of Parliament from Mr. Putin’s political party, United Russia.

Anna Kuznetsova, a deputy chairwoman in the Russian Parliament and Ms. Lvova-Belova’s predecessor as children’s rights commissioner, traveled from Moscow to deliver baby products on behalf of the party . “#WeDon’tAbandonOurOwn,” she wrote on Telegram, using a pro-war hashtag to suggest that the children belonged to Russia.

In interviews with The Times, Russian officials echoed that view, saying that the children from Kherson were Russian.

In May, Mr. Putin fulfilled his promise to Ms. Lvova-Belova by issuing a presidential decree that eased citizenship requirements: In Kherson and other occupied regions, Ukrainian caregivers could now file for Russian citizenship on behalf of Ukrainian foster children and orphans.

The decree also expedited the process so that children could become Russian citizens in 90 days or less, instead of up to five years.

The next month, Ms. Korniyenko, the director of the foster home, was summoned to Kherson’s Ministry of Health, now run by the occupation authorities. A Russian-backed official asked her to remain the director, but under his supervision. She was even offered a Russian passport.

But Ms. Korniyenko refused. She’d had enough of the occupiers, who, she said, intimidated the staff by asking them about their political views in a test of their allegiance and carried guns while monitoring the children.

Dr. Lukina resigned, too. She cared deeply about the children, but she didn’t want to have any role in what Russian-backed officials might do to them.

“I didn’t want to take part in it,” she said. “And I was afraid that they would take me away as well.”

In search of a new director, the occupation authorities turned to Dr. Tetiana Zavalska, a pediatrician at the foster home who often worked night and weekend shifts. She was sympathetic to the new occupation administration and made clear her pro-Russian views.

Dr. Zavalska encouraged the occupation authorities to formally register the foster home as a business under the new Russian-backed administration, in order to confer legitimacy to their control over the Ukrainian home and its children.

It was registered that very month.

In August, the Russian state-run television network RT ran a segment celebrating Kherson’s occupation that featured the foster home, now a legal entity in their eyes. As the host, Anton Krasovsky , approached the home’s entrance, he derided the inscription on a plaque affixed to the wall.

“The writing is still in Ukrainian,” he said, before looking up. “But the flag is ours: Russian. It will always be so.”

Dr. Zavalska, the new director, led Mr. Krasovsky on a tour of the building, pausing at the dining room, where some of the children sat at tables in their diapers.

“Enjoy your meal,” he said, as the camera panned across blank faces. “Say thank you,” a caregiver told the children. Only two of them appeared to oblige.

Later in the segment, Dr. Zavalska sat for an interview and described Ukraine’s president as a “clown.”

“I am putting my hope in Russia,” she added.

Broadcasts like these, which highlighted Russia’s efforts to absorb Ukrainian children from occupied territories, were a regular feature on local news outlets in Russia.

Ms. Lvova-Belova, the children’s rights commissioner, was filmed delivering children who had been taken from facilities in the Donbas region, in eastern Ukraine, to new caregivers. She announced that they had become Russian citizens.

On Telegram, Ms. Lvova-Belova said that she herself had fostered a Ukrainian teenager, who then obtained Russian citizenship.

Some experts on the region view these actions as a publicly orchestrated campaign by the Kremlin to justify the invasion and cast Mr. Putin as a savior.

“This is Putin’s version of doing God’s work,” said Andrew S. Weiss of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “It’s utter theater laced with this pseudo-historical view that there’s no such thing as Ukraine.”

As Mr. Putin illegally annexed Kherson and three other regions, Ukrainian forces began a military campaign to retake Kherson City.

Russian officials, fearing they might lose their grip, came up with a plan for the children in the foster home. In a private online chat for medical students, health officials in Russian-occupied Crimea recruited volunteers to help move them.

Original | Translation

The Times obtained, and redacted, a private message sent to medical students in Crimea on Oct. 20, 2022.

Natalia Kibkalo, a nurse who had worked at the home for 30 years, had just put nearly a dozen children to bed, all sick with Covid, when she heard the news: The children would be removed in the morning.

Dismayed, she could not sleep. Instead, she and other caregivers spent the night sewing the children’s names into their jackets and organizing bundles of clothes for them.

The next morning, on Oct. 21, she changed diapers and fed the children, following the normal pattern of their days. But she couldn’t stand the thought of helping to send them away and took a taxi home.

“We understood that we couldn’t do anything, that we could not stop it from happening,” Ms. Kibkalo said. “I don’t know how I could have lived after seeing that.”

Around 8 a.m., ambulances and white buses marked with the letter Z, a symbol of the Russian invasion, arrived at the foster home.

The group included Mr. Kastyukevich, “Navigator,” as well as the Crimean health minister at the time — also a member of Mr. Putin’s political party — his deputy, the student volunteers and several administrators from another foster home who would eventually become the children’s new caretakers.

Igor Kastyukevich Member of the Russian Parliament

Konstantin Skorupskiy Former health minister of Crimea

Anton Lyaskovskiy Deputy health minister of Crimea

Tetiana Zavalska Newly appointed foster home director

Aleksandr Vasyukov Former director at Yolochka, a children's home

Margarita Suslova Former deputy director at Yolochka

Yevgeniya Dmitrievskaya Social worker at Yolochka

Vitaliy Utkin Facilities manager at Yolochka

Dr. Zavalska gathered the children’s personal legal documents and medical records, preparing case files for each one.

Outside the home, Mr. Kastyukevich held one child in his arms and kissed him before passing him on as, one by one, the names of the 46 children were called out. Then they were carried onto the waiting buses and ambulances in their winter coats.

The convoy left the foster home later that morning, traversing the river in a perilous journey over a makeshift pontoon. By evening, they had arrived at their final destination.

The whereabouts of the children were never formally disclosed to Ukrainian officials, they said. But Russian officials left clues on Telegram.

The children were taken to the Crimean capital, Simferopol, and divided between two children’s facilities, including Yolochka, whose staff had previously been investigated for negligence.

Mr. Kastyukevich, who arrived with fur booties and mittens for the children, wrote on Telegram that the conditions were “much better than before.”

Russian officials have argued that the removal was an act of humanitarian intervention and legal under their Constitution because they annexed Kherson and controlled its population.

“It doesn’t matter who they are and who they were,” said Svetlana Scherbakova, a child services director in Crimea. “The children now have a peaceful sky over their heads.”

But human rights experts say Russia’s national laws do not override international obligations.

While temporarily evacuating children for their safety is permissible during conflict, it must follow strict protocols . Because Russia has not formally tracked the children’s movement or given intermediaries access to the children, the evacuation is a forcible transfer under international humanitarian law, according to Stephen J. Rapp, a former U.S. ambassador at large for global criminal justice.

“What Russia views as a humanitarian mission is a blatant war crime,” he said.

When Ms. Lvova-Belova, the children’s rights commissioner, traveled from Moscow to visit the home in Crimea, she said her office would help place the children with Russian foster families, but only if their birth parents could not be identified in Ukraine.

This was not always true.

At least one set of parents said they learned their children were in Crimea only when Times journalists visited them in Kherson six months later — even though documents showed that Russian officials had their names and address.

Their children, Mykola, who had autism, and Anastasiya Volodin, who had cerebral palsy, were placed in state custody years ago after the couple was deemed unable to care for them. Ukrainian courts had yet to decide on their parental rights, but the couple never imagined that their son and daughter might be taken from Kherson.

“I won’t allow anybody to adopt them,” said their father, Roman Volodin.

In the winter of 2022, the new caregivers, along with Dr. Zavalska, the appointed legal guardian, took steps to formally integrate the children in Russian society, even though some of them had birth parents in Ukraine who still had legal rights or who were known to the Russian authorities.

First, the caregivers applied for Russian birth certificates for the children — including the Volodin siblings — and translated their names into Russian.

The caregivers also arranged for the children to get Russian social security numbers, saying it was a requirement for the children to receive medical care.

The new documents were inadvertently revealed in a Telegram post by Russian-appointed officials .

Eventually, the children received Russian citizenship, the final step necessary to make them eligible for adoption and permanent placement with Russian families.

Legal experts said that the new documents, along with the translation of their names and their new nationalities, revealed an intent by the Russian authorities to strip the children of their Ukrainian identity, in violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child . It may also amount to a war crime.

In December 2022, Mr. Putin signed yet another decree, allowing caregivers in occupied territories to renounce the Ukrainian citizenship of children in their custody.

Emboldened Russian officials said that there were no plans to repatriate children to Ukraine and that the children would continue to receive the “full support” of the state.

“These children now have Russian documents,” Mr. Kastyukevich said in an interview. “Let’s move on.”

The first anniversary of the war brought presidential state awards from Mr. Putin to the two Crimean officials — the health minister at the time and his deputy — who helped orchestrate the transfer of the children from Kherson.

But the very next day, the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Mr. Putin and his children’s rights commissioner, accusing them of “unlawfully” taking “at least hundreds of children” from children’s homes across Ukraine.

“There is no suggestion that this was a temporary relocation after which the children would be repatriated,” said Payam Akhavan, a former prosecutor at The Hague.

Neither Mr. Putin’s office nor Ms. Lvova-Belova’s office responded to multiple requests for comment from The Times. But in public statements, the commissioner pledged to continue her work. At a news conference last year, Mr. Putin’s office dismissed the warrants as “petty.” Months later, Mr. Putin said there would be no “obstacles” to returning the children — so long as their parents traveled to claim them.

It is unlikely that either official will face trial, but legal experts described the case against them as “bulletproof,” citing the abundance of evidence that can be traced through open-source data.

There is no consensus, though, on how many children were forcibly transferred or deported to Russia, in part because of Ukraine’s decentralized child-care system. Ukraine claims the total number is about 19,500 children, but in interviews, officials in Kyiv struggled to break down or verify their data.

It has been 19 months since the children were removed from the foster home. A compilation of their images — from Kherson to Crimea — reveals how much they’ve grown in that time, making them harder to recognize even for their Ukrainian caregivers.

That may also pose a challenge to Ukrainian investigators, who are trying to track and return the children, and who have opened criminal cases against Mr. Kastyukevich, “Navigator,” and Dr. Zavalska, the director.

Last August, legal guardianship of the children changed hands yet again, from Dr. Zavalska to the Russian-administered Ministry of Labor and Social Policy for the Kherson region.

The appointed minister, Alla Barkhatnova, said that there was a “moral, ethical and legal” obligation to find families for them in Russia.

“We have people waiting in line to adopt or become foster parents,” she added.

Weeks later, their photos began to appear on a Russian federal adoption site, amid those of tens of thousands of Russian children. Their profiles, 22 in total, listed them as children from Crimea and made no mention of their birth country, Ukraine.

At least two of the children have been placed with Russian families, according to child services in Crimea.

Seven of the children from Kherson Children’s Home have returned to Ukraine with the assistance of Ukrainian authorities and third-party Qatari mediators . They included Anastasiya and Mykola Volodin, whose mother traveled this February to Moscow to claim them.

Anastasiya later died in a Ukrainian hospital just weeks after her sixth birthday. A doctor attributed her death to an epileptic seizure. Ukrainian authorities have resumed care of Mykola while a court determines whether his parents can be his legal guardians.

For now, the rest of the children from Kherson remain in Russian custody.

HOW WE REPORTED THIS STORY

Times reporters conducted more than 110 interviews over the course of a year with the children’s relatives and caregivers from Kherson Children’s Home, Ukrainian officials and prosecutors, Russian-appointed officials in occupied Kherson and Crimea, caregivers at two Crimean children’s facilities, humanitarian volunteers in Crimea, adoption support group administrators, attorneys in Russia, international war crimes lawyers and experts, historians, and military experts.

To trace the 46 children from Kherson Children’s Home to Crimea, The Times searched Ukrainian police and government missing persons directories and found the children’s full names and photographs. (Reporters discovered errors in some of the profiles that were later corrected by Ukrainian investigators after they were contacted by The Times.) Using these profiles, as well as images obtained exclusively from the children’s caregivers, The Times confirmed the whereabouts of the children on at least 13 occasions between 2022 and 2023. Reporters discovered the children in videos and photos posted to Telegram by Russian officials who visited them, in documentaries produced by Russian propaganda outlets and in advertisements for a Russian Christmas toy drive. The reporters built a database of the children’s faces over time and corroborated their results with Ukrainian caregivers. They then used the data to sift through thousands of profiles on a Russian federal adoption website and identified at least 22 children from Kherson Children’s Home who have been put up for adoption and foster care in Russia.

To identify the Russian officials involved in planning and carrying out the removal of the children, The Times paired interviews with data obtained from public platforms, including legislation and archives published by the Office of the President of Russia and the Office of the Children’s Rights Commissioner; Crimean and Russian news clips; photos posted to Vkontakte and Odnoklassniki, two popular social networks in Russia; videos shared on public Telegram channels of Ukrainian and Russian officials; and tax documents found on the Russian registry of legal entities. Reporters cross-referenced their findings with exclusive documents, text messages and photographs provided by the children’s caregivers in Kherson and volunteers in Crimea — some of which were reviewed by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War. They also reviewed and independently verified information sourced from Telegram bots that leak Russian data, and websites that use facial recognition software.

Video and photo editing by Natalie Reneau. Translations and additional research by Oksana Nesterenko. Additional translation by Milana Mazaeva. Rebecca Lieberman contributed design from New York. Adam Coll, Slava Yatsenko, Anton Lavreniuk and Evelina Riabenko contributed field production from Kherson City.

Yousur Al-Hlou is a senior video journalist for The Times reporting on breaking news and investigative stories in conflict zones around the world. More about Yousur Al-Hlou

Masha Froliak is a journalist who has been covering the war in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022. More about Masha Froliak

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

The decision by the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia  with American-made weapons fulfills a long-held wish by officials in Kyiv  that they claimed was essential to level the playing field.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied arms could expand beyond the current limitation  to strikes in the Kharkiv area.

Top Ukrainian military officials have warned that Russia is building up troops near northeastern Ukraine , raising fears that a new offensive push could be imminent.

Zelensky Interview: In an interview with The New York Times, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine challenged the West  over its reluctance to take bolder action.

Fleeing a War Zone: A 98-year-old Ukrainian grandmother stumbled past corpses and bomb craters  to escape Russia’s attacks.

Russia’s RT Network : RT, which the U.S. State Department describes as a key player in the Kremlin’s propaganda apparatus, has been blocked in Europe since the war started. Its content is still spreading .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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