BANGLADESH CHILD LABOR:

Putting food on the table – at age 12

Photo: Contributor/IRIN Twelve-year-old Faruque is one of more than 7.4 million children working in Bangladesh today

Twelve-year-old Faruque is one of more than 7.4 million children working in Bangladesh today

DHAKA, 6 January 2010 (IRIN) – Child labour in Bangladesh is fuelled by poverty, low school enrolment, a lack of government oversight and greedy employers, experts say.

According to a recent study by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) entitled Child Poverty and Disparities in Bangladesh, 7.42 million children are working, or one in six.

IRIN spoke to Faruque, aged 12, who works as a truck driver’s mate in Dhaka, and also to his mother and his employer.

“I start work each day at 7am and work until 10pm, seven days a week. Sometimes when the driver goes outside Dhaka to unload goods, I have to go with him and stay with the truck the whole time. I earn 135 taka (US$2) a day for working here. I’ve been working here for four years. Before that I used to wash trucks in an automobile workshop, but I was paid less for that.

“I used to go to school but after my father died I left school as my family needs my income. I want to go to school. But now I think it’s too late. I don’t know whether I can start my education again. Now I am learning this trade and when I grow up I want to be a good driver.

Photo: Contributor/IRIN Parul Begum says her son needs to do child labor work to support the family

Parul Begum says her son needs to work to support the family

“Working as a transport helper is a hard and risky job, but I have to for my family. There are many children like me working as transport helpers here. Many are even younger than me. My boss loves me. Sometimes he scolds me but most of the time he is good to me. I know there are some drivers who are not so nice to the children that work for them. Some even beat them.”

Parul Begum, 35, Faruque’s mother

“My husband died seven years ago… Then I started working as a domestic helper at a house… and earn around 2,700 taka (US$40) a month, but it’s not enough. I have a daughter, eight years old, who goes to school. I have to think about her future. I have no other options but to send my son to work.

“We live in a slum near the Tejgaon industrial area. I have to spend money on rent, and a good amount on food.

“Of course I know he (Faruque) should be in school, but our family needs the money. With the high cost of living, it’s impossible to manage without his income. I know he works hard… He is making sacrifices for our family.

Photo: Contributor/IRIN Mohammad Erfan knows Faruque should be in school, but believes he is giving him an opportunity to learn a trade

“I hope he learns from this work and one day becomes a good driver himself. Then he will have a good future.

Mohammad Erfan, 40, truck driver and employer

“Many people ask me why I employ a child as my helper. I think his family needs money and I’m giving him a chance to do just that. Also in this way, he is learning how to drive which is an important skill… If this child learns the trade and becomes a good driver, it will be a very good thing for him and his family.

“Of course I know at his age, he shouldn’t be working and should be in school. I feel sympathy for him. I don’t want him to work. But again if I do not employ him, his family will face financial problems… I do not beat him and try to help him when he works. I know some drivers treat the children they employ very badly; some of them even beat them.

Source: IRIN news http://www.irinnews.org/