CHILD LABORERS

Background: In Pakistan there are about 3.3 Million unprotected child laborers. They are constantly exposed to all kinds of dangers and abuse intimidating the future of the country. These child laborers are without the basic necessities of life including food, shelter,schooling and healthcare services, which has devastating effects on our socio-economic fabric. It is quite imperative to comprehend and unveil the perilous picture of the working conditions of child laborers and the abuse inflicted upon them at such an impressionable age. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Rawalpindi city including workshops, shops and streets of Rawalpindi. Period: January 2008–Dec 2008. Objective:To assess the presence of any Verbal, Physical and Sexual abuse among the child laborers at Rawalpindi city. Results: Out of the total sample of 700 study subjects 315 (45%) of the Child laborers reported being abused whereas 385 (55%) reported no abuse. Out of the fraction which reported to be abused the break up is as follows. 214 (67.9%) reported verbal abuse, 75 (23.8%) reported Physical abuse and 25 (7.9%) reported sexual abuse. Conclusions: This study concluded that the child laborers are open to the elements of the adversities that come along with their work environment. The government should be urged to take necessary steps to trim down the abuse against child laborers and its frightening effects on their families, society and nation at large by constituting strict laws and ensuring their speedy implementation.