Every child has rights “without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the

child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property,
disability, birth or another status” (Article 2).

Introduction
Child labour refers to the employment of children in any industry or
occupation that deprives them of their childhood, interferes with their ability
to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, or morally
harmful. Child labour is considered a violation of basic human rights, and it is a
global problem that affects millions of children, particularly in developing
countries. Children who are engaged in child labour are often forced to work
long hours in dangerous and unhealthy conditions, with little or no pay. They
may be employed in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, or
domestic service, among other sectors. Child labour is particularly prevalent in
countries where poverty is widespread, and education is not easily accessible
or affordable. Child labour has a devastating impact on children's physical and
emotional well-being, and it can have long-term consequences on their health,
education, and future prospects. It also undermines efforts to eradicate
poverty, promote economic growth, and achieve sustainable development.
Therefore, eliminating child labour remains a significant challenge for the
global community.

Findings
The Rana Plaza incident was a tragic incident that occurred on April 24, 2013,
in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where a garment factory complex collapsed, killing
1,134 people and injuring more than 2,500. The incident is considered to be
one of the deadliest industrial disasters in history. One of the factors that
contributed to the Rana Plaza incident was the widespread use of child labour
in the garment industry in Bangladesh. Many children were employed in the
factories in and around the Rana Plaza building, working long hours in unsafe
and hazardous conditions for very low wages. In response to the Rana Plaza
incident, the Bangladeshi government and international organizations, such as
the ILO, have taken steps to address the issue of child labour in the garment
industry. This includes strengthening labour laws, increasing enforcement, and
promoting education and awareness about the risks and harms associated with
child labour. However, despite these efforts, child labour remains a significant
problem in many countries around the world, and more needs to be done to
ensure that children are protected from exploitation and abuse.
In 2014, a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) found that
there were 168 million child labourers worldwide, with more than half of them
engaged in hazardous work. Nestle, a multinational food and beverage
company, has faced criticism and accusations of using child labour in its supply
chain, particularly in the production of cocoa for its chocolate products. The
company has been accused of not doing enough to prevent child labour and of
failing to enforce its own policies and standards. According to a report by the
International Labour Rights Forum (ILRF), children as young as 5 years old are
forced to work in hazardous conditions on cocoa farms in West Africa, where
Nestle sources much of its cocoa. These children are often exposed to
pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and they work long hours for little pay.
Despite their efforts, reports continue to surface about child labour in Nestlé’s
supply chain. In response, nestle has stated that it is committed to continuing
to address the issue and to working with its suppliers, governments, and other
stakeholders to find solutions to the problem of child labour.
However, cases in Pakistan, in 2018, a report by the International Labour
Organization (ILO) found that there were over 12 million child laborers in
Pakistan, with many working in the agricultural and domestic sectors. The
Tayyaba abuse case in Pakistan is a well-known incident of child labour and
abuse. Tayyaba was a young girl who worked as a maid for a judge and his wife
in Islamabad. In December 2016, pictures of Tayyaba's bruised and swollen
face went viral on social media, sparking outrage across the country. It was
later revealed that Tayyaba had been beaten and tortured by her employers,
and had been forced to work long hours without pay. She had also been locked
in a storeroom and deprived of food and water. The case gained widespread
attention and led to calls for action to be taken to prevent child labour and
abuse in Pakistan. The judge and his wife were arrested and charged with child
abuse, torture, and illegal confinement. They were later convicted and
sentenced to prison terms.
Another similar incident occurs when an eight-year-old Zahra Shahid Hussain
who was brutally beaten to death by her employers, a wealthy family in
Islamabad, in May 2020. Zahra had been working as a maid for the family, and
was subjected to physical abuse and torture on a regular basis. Her employers
beat her with a stick, burned her with an iron, and locked her in a storeroom
without food or water. She eventually died of her injuries. The case sparked
outrage across the country, with many calling for justice for Zahra and for
action to be taken to prevent child abuse and exploitation in Pakistan. Her
employers were arrested and charged with murder, and the case is currently
ongoing. These incidents highlight the ongoing problem of child labour in
Pakistan and the need for concerted efforts to address this issue and protect
the rights of children.

Analysis
The use of child labour in the garment industry in Bangladesh was also a
contributing factor to the Rana Plaza incident. Many children were employed
in the factories in and around the building, working long hours in unsafe and
hazardous conditions for very low wages. Such an incident highlights how child
labour has been significantly deep rooted in our systems whether it be the
agriculture sector or any other industry. Developing countries like Pakistan or
Bangladesh that have been not fully equipped need ample time to commit in
diminishing the chain of child labourers. With multinational companies like
Nestle that has created controversy with their issue regarding the supply chain
consisting of child labours. Nestle has been criticized for not doing enough to
prevent child labour and for failing to enforce its own policies and standards.
This shows that even developed companies don’t abide by the charter of
human rights, let alone children rights. Nestle has pledged to eliminate child
labour from its cocoa supply chain and committed to sourcing only cocoa
beans that are certified as "sustainable" and "child labour-free" by 2025 which
seems like an ongoing issue. Big multinational companies must take strong
actions against child abuse.
In contrast to problems in the domestic sector where Pakistan has had many
cases like the Zahra case and Tayyaba case. The Zahra Shahid Hussain case
highlighted the urgent need for stronger laws and enforcement to protect the
rights of children in Pakistan and ensure that they are not subjected to
exploitation and abuse. It also sparked a wider conversation about the
prevalence of child labour and abuse in the country, and the need for
concerted efforts to address this issue and protect the most vulnerable
members of society. The Tayyaba abuse case highlighted the need for stronger
laws and enforcement to protect the rights of children in Pakistan and ensure
that they are not subjected to exploitation and abuse. It also sparked a wider
conversation about the prevalence of child labour in the country and the
urgent need for action to address this issue. Due to the ongoing economic
crisis in Pakistan, the need for workers has increased in every low income
household. Where children under 15 are working for survival, the law state the
opposite which doesn’t allow that. However, a major factor of child abuse is
the law enforcement. Pakistan needs to implement their policies well as the
rate of child labour increases day by day.

Conclusion
In conclusion, child labour is a grave violation of human rights and a significant
obstacle to sustainable development. It perpetuates poverty and perpetuates
intergenerational cycles of poverty by denying children the opportunity to
acquire education and skills necessary for their future economic well-being.
Governments, civil society organizations, and individuals all have a role to play
in ending child labour. It is crucial to raise awareness, promote education and
empowerment of children and their families, enforce laws against child labour,
and promote decent work for adults. To end child labour, it is essential to
address the root causes of poverty, increase access to education, and create
decent work opportunities for adults. It also requires enforcement of laws
against child labour and collaboration between governments, civil society
organizations, and individuals. By working together, we can create a world
where all children have the opportunity to live their childhoods free from the
burden of exploitative labour.

Recommendations
Education and awareness campaigns can help increase understanding of the
nature and consequences of child abuse. This can include training programs for
parents, teachers and public campaigns that encourage reporting of suspected
abuse. Governments must strengthen their legal frameworks and policies.
Teaching positive discipline techniques, and promoting healthy communication
within families. Creating safe and protective environments for children is
essential to preventing abuse. Schools, community centres, and other public
spaces must be safe and secure. By implementing these recommendations, we
can work towards abolishing child abuse and ensuring that all children can
grow up in safe, nurturing, and supportive environments.
Citations: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53008093
https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/the-rana-plaza-disaster