When: Wednesday, 31 January 2023, at 12:00 p.m
Where: ILO Building, Near State Bank, G-5/2, Islamabad.
What: The International Labour Organization cordially invites you to a panel discussion to learn about the challenges of child labour, the minimum age for work and the role of the ILO’s Conventions.
The session will provide a platform for dialogue among stakeholders from government, employers’ and workers’ organizations, labour experts and civil society to examine policy measures and gaps, as well as effective strategies for the implementation of action to combat child labour.
Who:
Ayesha Raza Farooq, Chairperson National Commission on the Rights of Child, Senator PML-N
Muhammad Wishaq, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development
Iftikhar Ahmed, Founder, Centre for Labour Research
Arooma Shahzad, General Secretary, Domestic Workers’ Union
Shayaan Malik, President, Save Our Children Foundation
Background:
Pakistan ratified the Minimum Age Convention C138, 1973 in 2006. The minimum age for admission to employment or work specified by Pakistan at the time of ratification was 14 years. Four provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory have enacted laws providing for free and compulsory education until the age of 16 years in line with the Constitution of Pakistan.
The current disparity in ages (minimum age for work and age for compulsory education) poses significant risks. When the minimum age for work is lower than the age of completing school, there’s a concerning possibility that children may opt to enter the workforce instead of continuing their education. This conflict raises ethical concerns as children, legally authorized to work, might be motivated to forgo their educational rights, undermining their holistic development.
The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, a part of the ILO’s supervisory mechanism, has urged the Pakistani government to revise its legislation to raise the minimum age for admission to employment from 14 to 16 years. Aligning this age limit with the completion of compulsory schooling is not only in accordance with Article 2(3) of Convention C138 but also serves to protect the educational rights of children and prevent premature labour market entry.
Moreover, confusion persists between the minimum age for admission to work and the concept of “light work” outlined in Convention 138. This convention allows children aged 13 to 15 years to engage in regulated light work under specific conditions. However, the lack of understanding among enforcement agencies and employers regarding these provisions has contributed to an alarming statistic—approximately 3 million children under 14 years old are economically active, indicating a widespread misunderstanding of permissible work conditions for children