Keywords: Child labor, transportation, poverty

A large population of Kathmandu valley is dependent on public transportation for their everyday activities as it is the cheapest transportation means in the valley. They frequently complain about the problems of crowds, pickpocketing, traffic jams, and other problems. Apart from these is the problem of child labour in the public transportation sector. It is very common for the valley denizens to encounter children working as bus conductors or bus assistants in public transportation. They are seen especially in the micro-buses. It is a serious issue that goes unnoticed by the public and the traffic police, and that hardly concerns them.

Child labour is common in different service sectors of Nepal like hotels and restaurants, brick kilns, and domestic households. However, child labour in transportation services is different from child labour in these sectors. The process of urbanization has increased the labour market in Kathmandu and with this, the practice of child labour. The children involved in the transportation sector work in a highly hazardous environment. They are exposed to air and noise pollution, are at high risk of accidents, have poor living arrangements, and are on the verge of being physically and verbally abused.

The study conducted by Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Center (CWIN) found poverty as the major reason for the involvement of children in this sector. The other major push factors were dysfunctional or single-parent headed family, dropping out of school, domestic violence, and alcoholism. The pull factors discovered from the study were good money, food and shelter taken care of by the owners of the public vehicles, travel free of cost, and seeing city attractions. Most of these children transport workers aim to continue this work and become a driver, earning more money and having more opportunities. But till they reach the eligible age to receive a driver’s license, they face abuses from drivers and employers, they are made to work for more than 12 hours a day, and face abuses from traffic police for failing to understand the traffic signals and rules, especially in the initial period of their work.

The government launched a campaign “Child-labour free transport 2075” intending to get rid of child labour in public transportation. Stickers were pasted on the public vehicles for the purpose of raising public awareness, monitoring was carried out by government agencies under the campaign, and some children were even rescued. However, it did not lead to the expected results. There are issues with children’s homes and shelters too. They are nearly full and some children refuse to be confined in an institution. While some children are given vocational training, a vast majority are ineligible due to their young age.

Although the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056 BS mentions public transport enterprises as a risky job for children and it prohibits employing children in such job, the law has not been implemented. Therefore, the problem of child labour is not rooted in law but it is rooted in the social and economic structure of the Nepali society.

Until and unless the poverty-stricken economy is not recovered, the problem of child labour cannot be minimized. The government should aim to work on improving the economic standard of the people and the fulfilment of that can only help to minimize the problem of child labour. This has been proven by our northern neighbour, China. China drew a huge population out of poverty, which directly helped in minimizing child labour. It was successful enough to increase the per capita income of the rural residents that further discouraged their children from working. The studies by CWIN as mentioned above and Nepali newspapers have shown poverty as the main cause of child labour in Nepal. The report of CWIN shows that 68% of the child transport labourers reported that they contribute financially to their family’s expenses. The parents of these children cannot afford to send them to schools or to provide them with a decent living. This leaves them with no choice but to come to cities and find jobs.

Hence, organizing public awareness programs, monitoring, rescuing the children and punishing the employers who employ them are not enough to help minimize child labour. Considering the fact that the child transportation workers work consensually and are satisfied with their earnings, monitoring and rescuing them from child labour alone does not solve the problem. The government should immediately start working to alleviate poverty and to improve the economic standard of its citizens.

In conclusion, if child labour is not uprooted, it is bound to perpetuate poverty across generations as it keeps children away from schooling, limiting their opportunities. The relationship between poverty and child labour is like the “egg and chicken” debate. Poverty is both the cause and the consequence of child labour.

References:

Bureau of International Labour Affairs, ‘2017 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labour-Nepal’, https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/5bd05ae00.pdf.

China Labour Bulletin, ‘China sees progress in tackling child labour but problems remain’, 12 June 2019, https://clb.org.hk/content/china-sees-progress-tackling-child-labour-problems-remain.

International Labour Office, ‘Nepal Child Labour Report’, January 2011, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---ilo-kathmandu/documents/publication/wcms_182988.pdf.

International Labour Office, ‘Eliminating Child Labour in Nepal’, https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/---ilo-kathmandu/documents/projectdocumentation/wcms_182777.pdf.

Nagarik, ‘Micromma Baal Majhdoor’, Asoj 28, 2072.

Naya Patrika, ‘Baldiwas Naramai Simit’, Bhadau 30, 2072.

Republica, ‘The Bus Boys’, Magh 14, 2073.

The Himalayan Times, ‘Children Working as bus conductors rescued’, Jestha 15, 2075.

The Rising Nepal, ‘Child labour-free transport campaign launched’, April 18, 2018,

World Education, ‘Child Labour Status Report, 2009’, http://3vvxza37b4sa2ci1ug2o2qwg-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bfp-children-in-transport.pdf.