By Dr Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, May 14, 2023 (BSS)- Number of child labour in various industries, factories and other risky workplaces has started reducing due to intervention of various time-fitting steps, including work oriented education, in the region for the last couple of years.

Deputy Inspector General of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) Ariful Islam said they are working with the children working in 38 risky sectors in the region.

In 2021, there were 190 child labourers under 14 in the risky sectors. They have brought 80 of those under work oriented education through freeing them from the risky jobs till April last.

Islam also said there are more than 5,000 child laborers in factories and other commercial establishments, including electric and welding, in the city and its outskirts and upazila markets which are beyond their registration process.

He said there are many reasons behind the child labours and they have limitations to mitigate the problems. Despite the limitations they are putting in their level best efforts to rehabilitate the child labourers every year in a planned way. They are being brought under technical and vocational education gradually.

Abdullah Khan, President of Rajshahi District Shramik League, said the child labours are subjected to repression and oppression coupled with bulling, mental and physical torture and sexual exploitation and abuse frequently.

Situation of child labour in marginalized and ethnic minority communities is more vulnerable compared to the urban areas. Daughter children in the poverty-prone areas face early marriage, while the boys are forced to work with guardians.

If the country can ensure a women-friendly and child-friendly environment then the child rights will be easily ensured.

 
Abdullah Khan said physical and mental development of children couldn't be possible until they were protected from risky labour.

 
The children should be protected from all sorts of labour, violence, repression and oppression so that they could make themselves competent enough to serve the nation.

 
He stressed that children should be taught positive social values and encouraged to develop healthy behaviors at an early age.

 
Apart from this, he emphasized the need for ensuring children's safety and security and stopping early marriage for the greater national interest.

Meanwhile, all the functioning silk industries and factories in Rajshahi industrial estate of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) are freed from any child labour at present.

 
The positive scenario has been revealed by members of a national monitoring core committee of the labour and employment ministry after visiting some of the silk factories in the recent past.

 
The committee members went round the silk manufacturing ventures and factories like Lucky Weaving Silk Traders, Usha Silk, Sapura Silk, Adhunik Silk Mills, Nadim Silk Industries, Khaza Ahmed Silk Industries and Rajshahi Silk Fashion.

 
After visiting the industries, the team members mentioned that not a single child works in the factories. They have visited the business establishments to see whether any children work or not here and the team members are happy over the situation.

BSCIC Regional Director Rezaul Alam Sarker said social responsibility coupled with concerted efforts of all the government and non-government organizations concerned can be the best way of preventing child labour.

 
Side by side with building large-scale mass-awareness, owners of factories and industries should come forward and work together to eliminate the child labour for protecting their legitimate rights.