Agriculture, Forestry, Manufacturing, Fishing Lead in Child Labor

News Desk
Peshawar: Agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, and fishing emerged as the primary industries where a considerable number of children, aged between 5 and 17 years, are involved in child labor, according to the Child Labour Survey 2022–23 conducted by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Labour Department.
The comprehensive survey covered all districts of the province, including the recently merged districts. The survey disclosed that child labor was prevalent in various sectors, with agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounting for 51.6 percent, water collection for 19.1 percent, wholesale and retail trade for 9.7 percent, and manufacturing for 7.7 percent.
The overall child population in the province, aged between 5 and 17 years, stands at approximately 8.28 million. Among them, 11.1 percent are identified as working children, with 80 percent engaged in child labor and 73.8 percent exposed to hazardous working conditions.
Focusing on the 14–17 age group, the report indicated that 21.6 percent were working children, with 15.5 percent involved in either child labor or hazardous work.
The causes of children being in labor are multi-dimensional, encompassing factors such as the head of the household having no or only primary education (44.7 percent), the household being in the poorest wealth condition (31.8 percent), the household benefiting from BISP’s assistance (26.3 percent), the migration of the head of the household (14.6 percent), and the household losing at least one parent (6.6 percent).
The KP Child Labour Survey 2022–23, the second provincial survey in Pakistan after Punjab, was conducted across all districts of the province, including the newly merged districts.
The survey collected data from 49,734 households, achieving a response rate of 92.5 percent despite challenges like harsh weather and security issues, particularly in the newly merged districts.
The report identified major industries for child labor, including agriculture, forestry, and fishing at 51.6 percent; water collection at 19.1 percent; wholesale and retail trade at 9.7 percent; and manufacturing at 7.7 percent.
In addition to highlighting the prevalence of child labor, the report provided a detailed analysis of its effects on children, encompassing physical and psychological consequences, limitations on equitable education opportunities, workplace abuse, economic exploitation, health repercussions, and more.
During the event attended by officials from various government departments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, donor agencies, and academia, Riaz Anwar Khan, Advisor to the Chief Minister for Labour Department, emphasized the importance of taking the survey’s findings seriously for policy reforms and programs aimed at eradicating child labor.
Muhammad Fakhre Alam, Secretary Labour, stressed that the considerable resources invested in the survey marked the beginning of a long-term initiative and commitment by the KP government and Labour Department.
He emphasized the need to utilize the evidence gathered for policy reforms and program designs to eliminate child labor and provide children with decent living conditions and equitable opportunities for education and development.
Jo Moir, Development Director, British High Commission Islamabad, highlighted child labor as a global issue, particularly significant in Pakistan. She emphasized the complexity of the drivers of child labor, including poverty and social behavior, and called for a multi-sectoral and collective response.
She commended the Labour Department’s efforts and urged improving governance, engaging communities to change social norms, and supporting parents and families to access better opportunities for their children.
Abdullah Fadil, Representative UNICEF Pakistan, expressed appreciation for the successful completion of the KP-CLS, urging stakeholders to use the data for further studies, policy analyses, and influencing resource allocation.
He emphasized the need for long-term commitment and investments to eradicate child labor and invited donors to support policies, programs, and social change initiatives comprehensively. Fadil urged all stakeholders to take pragmatic steps, utilizing the evidence from the survey to promise a better future for children involved in labor