Child Labour

NO CHILD LABOUR
IN

DOMESTIC WORK

This Paper entitled, “No Child Labour in
Domestic Work” developed by Institute of Public
Policy Research & Development (IPPRD)
supported by Save the Children in concert with
J&K Yateem Trust(JKYT), District Child
Protection Advisory Group(DCPAG) Anantnag is
informed by the experience of struggle, resilience
and creative survival practices of Kashmiri people
vis-à-vis child labour . It is an invitation to all –
government, civil society, local and international
organizations – as well as to development
practitioners,
to
continue
enriching
the
understanding for nature of domestic work under
taken by the children and the growth of the
sector; the contribution that these domestic child
workers make to economic and social
development with the primary objective of
sustenance keeping in mind; the impact of
violations against Child domestic workers; why
they need protections and how t o p r ot ect t h em.
In the light of promising initiatives implemented by
government, and civil society groups, including
industrial organizations, and path breaking
developments in the international human rights
system, we focus on why and how to protect
Children as domestic workers. In doing so, it
makes the normative and efficiency case for
implementing legal and social protections for child
domestic workers.
This paper highlights the international standards
to protect child domestic workers; demonstrates
how to apply these and shares lessons learned
from good practice around the world on these
issues.
IPPRD.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The report presented herein is a collective effort put in by the members at
Institute of Public Policy Research and Development (IPPRD) who
acknowledge and thank many contributors particularly JKYT for sharing their
expertise, experiences, time and thoughts that made this report possible.
A very special thanks to DCPAG, Prof. A.G Madhosh, Dr. Farooq
(DDC ,
Anantnag), for the inspiration, insights and continuous support to the
realization of this publication. We would also like to thank the Senior Members
of South Kashmir Civil Society, Management and the Communications and
Advocacy team of the Save the Children for their continuous support.
COMPILATION TEAM:
IPPRD
Bashir Ahlmad Ganie
Sajad Ahmad Rather
Sayar Ahmad Parray
Rafiq Ahmad
DESIGN: BASHIR A GANIE

EDITED : RAO FARMAN ALI

INTRODUCTION
Over the decades Kashmir has been in conflict; the first
& foremost affects have been its children. The children
become orphans. They fall into the traps of orphanages
that to satiate the proprietors greed exploit them and
isolate them socially. They end up as domestic helps or
in the occupations in open-air locations such as the
street, the market, the shops, the motels; on remote
farms and orchards; in guest-houses and hotels; in
private households; and in back-room workshops. Even
in certain cases they are being exploited- both by the
interstate and intrastate agencies, mainstream
politicians as well as the off-stream groups to serve
their designs in terms of victims to Indian armed
security personnel or militants. All these are outside
the normal reach of labour controls.
There has been an attempt to profile the impact on the
children falling in the age group 6 -14 years entitled
TALASH but (it focussed on drop-outs and never
enrolled only) more detailed and reliable information
on the impact of work on children is needed to inform
growing public concern about the issue. Methods of
research need to be specially developed which take
account of the wide variety of jobs undertaken by
children, and of the difficulties in reaching them -especially when they are employed within the
households of others.

Not only the contractual basis of child domestic labour
but many of its practical characteristics have features
akin to slavery. A child employed in a private household
may be unpaid; be expected to work round the clock
without any time off; be virtually imprisoned and
treated as the GHULAAM (chattel) of the employer. In
the 1993 Report of the ILO's Committee of Experts on
the
Application
of
the
Conventions
and
Recommendations, comments on the situation of
restaveks (child domestic workers) in Haiti in relation to
one of the ILO's most important labour standards -Convention No.29 Concerning Forced or Compulsory
Labour (1930). The Committee noted the domestic
worker's separation from her home and family, the
threat of physical and sexual abuse, the long hours, the
exploitative conditions, and the humiliation he/she
must endure.
The hazards linked to child domestic work are a matter
of grave concern. The ILO has identified a number of
hazards to which domestic workers are particularly
vulnerable and the reason it may be considered in
some cases a worst form of child labour. Some of the
most common risks children face in domestic service
include: long and tiring working days; use of toxic
chemicals; carrying heavy loads; handling dangerous

items such as Knives, axes and hot pans; insufficient or
inadequate food and accommodation, and humiliating
or degrading treatment including physical and verbal
violence, and sexual abuse. The risks are compounded
when a child lives in the household where he or she
works as a domestic worker. These hazards need to be
seen in association with the denial of fundamental
rights of the child, such as, for example, access to
education and health care, the right to rest, leisure,
play and recreation, and the right to be cared for and
to have regular contact with their parents and peers.
These factors can have an irreversible physical,
psychological and moral impact on the development,
health and wellbeing of a child.
In Kashmir - the turmoil added fuel to the denial of the
Child’s basic rights and consequently, approximately
1.43 % of Orphans of Armed Conflict are mainly the
children of slain militants especially in border areas
and in some far-flung hamlets were/are engaged as
labourers[ below 14 years of age], because their
families were/are completely dependent upon them.
This is primarily seen in the uprisings of the 2008
(Amarnath Land Row) and 2010 about 80% of those
killed by Indian security forces were the school going
children, it is because of this that some of the parents
of school going children got demotivated to keep their
wards in homes. This too was an onus to the child
labour. Ironically, some of the separatist [Pro-freedom]
leaders say that people of Kashmir need Azadi

It is opportune
time that schools
in
J&K
are
declared
as
“Zones of Peace”.

(Freedom), saying that it hardly matters that a child
loses a school day in resistance struggle, justifying strike
calls, on the other hand, these very leaders press for
the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir, if so,
then what about Geneva Convention 1989, on Rights to
Child or the clauses of UNCRC. Tragically government
and its machinery or the Indian security agencies in
Kashmir project peace in Kashmir by a measuring rod of
normal functioning of schools while as resistance
leaders measure the success of strike calls by the
closure of the schools as one of the parameters. So it is
opportune time that schools in J&K be declared as
“Zones of Peace”.
This paper presents research experiences of prominent
Kashmiri’ academicians, administrators, civil society
members and strives towards the development of a
mechanism to rescue Children entangled in the web of
Child Labour or those that are attracted by some adult
baiters whose motive is to exploit them. It explores
through personal testimonies, the significance of
regulating and protecting child domestic work from the
point of view of child domestic workers, industrial
federations, government and employers in Kashmir. But
it goes beyond “making the case”, to also
demonstrating how standards to promote and protect
the rights of Child Domestic Workers, exemplified in the
international human rights system and analysises the
pros and cons of good practices, that can actually be
applied to nip the evil in the bud and up scaled.

“1.43 % Orphans of Armed Conflict, who are
mainly the children of
slain militants in
border areas and in some far-flung
hamlets were/are engaged as
labourers, because their families were/are
completely dependent upon them”

A Domestic Child Labourer in Kashmir
Nitta as the name suggests is notorious Child Domestic Labourer
from a village in the vicinity of town Anantnag. He dropped out of
school at eight years age in 2005 as his father was killed in custody
by Indian Security Forces. He used to do domestic labour in
neighbours houses for free for initial three years. In 2008 he lost
his elder brother and his mother suffered accidental brain damage
& lost her memory. The unfolding of sad events cast their shadows
on Nitta as he lost his hearing power but he turned into a rowdy
fearless labourer with hell of courage. He is in demand for his
potential labour in every house of his neighbourhood. Extracting
sand and stones from the bed of rivulet Lidder he earns Rs 1000 a
day. He has a JK Bank saving account and saves most of it for the
winters. In winters he visits tourist destinations like Goa, Kerala
and makes merry.

NITTA’S MESSAGES

Child Domestic Labourers
should lead the
movement to enforce
protections for domestic
workers.
Protecting domestic
workers promotes the
recognition of all
women and girls who
perform domestic
work.
Domestic workers c a n b e
powerful political leaders
and change agents, if their
rights are respected.

Child Labour in Domestic Work!
Child labour:

Child labour is the practices of

having children engage in economic activity, on part
or full-time basis. The practice deprives children of
their childhood, and is harmful to their physical and
mental development. Poverty, lack of good schools
and growth of informal economy are considered as
the important causes of child labour in India.
The 2001 national census of India estimated the total
number of child labour, aged 5–14, to be at 12.6
million. The child labour problem is not unique to
India; worldwide, about 217 million children work,
many full-time.
UNICEF estimates that India with its larger population
has the highest number of labourers in the world less

than 14 years of age. International Labour
Organisation estimates that agriculture at 60 percent
is the largest employer of child labour in India, while
United
Nation's Food
and
Agriculture
Organization estimates 70 % of child labour is
deployed in agriculture and related activities. Outside
of agriculture, child labour is observed in almost
all informal sectors of the Indian economy.

Child labour in domestic work: Child labour
in domestic work refers to situations where domestic
work is performed by children below the relevant
minimum age (for light work, full-time non-hazardous
work), in hazardous conditions or in a slavery-like
situation.

UNICEF estimates that India with its larger population has the highest number of labourers
in the world less than 14 years of age. International Labour Organisation estimates that
agriculture at 60 percent is the largest employer of child labour in India.

Domestic work- the Meaning!?
Following Convention No. 189, “domestic work”
means work performed in or for a household or
households and “domestic worker” means any person
engaged in domestic work within an employment
relationship.
The term “domestic work” covers a wide range of
tasks and services that vary from country to country,
society to society & culture to Culture and that can be
different depending on the age, gender, ethnic
background and migration status of the workers
concerned, as well as the cultural and economic
context in which they work. This means that a
definition of domestic work and the workers involved
on the basis only of the tasks being performed, risks
being perpetually incomplete. Rather, the Convention
No. 189 draws on the common and distinctive
characteristic that domestic workers are employed by,
and provide services for, third party private
households.

Household chores performed by children
in their own homes does not constitute
child domestic work:
Household chores undertaken by children in their own
homes, in reasonable conditions, and under the
supervision of those close to them are an integral part
of family life and of growing up, therefore something
positive. However, in some cases, there might be
concerns over certain situations where these
workloads might interfere with the children’s
education or be excessive, in which case they might
be tantamount to child labour.
Children doing household chores in their own home,
and children in domestic work (in a third party
household) might perform similar tasks. However, in
the first case, the employment element is missing;
therefore, we should avoid referring to those
situations as domestic work.

Children doing household chores in their own home, and
children in domestic work (in a third party household) might
perform similar tasks. However, in the first case, the
employment element is missing; therefore, we should avoid
referring to those situations as domestic work.

Child Domestic Work - a “hidden”
PHENOMENON difficult to tackle!
This phenomenon is often hidden and hard to tackle
because of its links to social and cultural patterns. In
many countries child domestic work is not only
accepted socially and culturally, but is also regarded in
a positive light as a protected and non-stigmatised
type of work and preferred to others forms of
employment – especially for girls. The perpetuation of
traditional female roles and responsibilities, within
and outside the household, as well as the perception
of domestic service as part of a woman’s
“apprenticeship” for adulthood and marriage, also
contribute to the persistence of child domestic work
as a form of child labour.

The hazards faced by child domestic
workers:
The hazards linked to child domestic work are a
matter of serious concern. The ILO has identified a
number of hazards to which domestic workers are
particularly vulnerable and the reason it may be
considered in some cases a worst form of child labour.

Some of the most common risks children face in
domestic service include: long and tiring working days;
use of toxic chemicals; carrying heavy loads; handling
dangerous items such as knives, axes and hot pans;
insufficient or inadequate food and accommodation,
and humiliating or degrading treatment including
physical and verbal violence, and sexual abuse. The
risks are compounded when a child lives in the
household where he or she works as a domestic
worker. These hazards need to be seen in association
with the denial of fundamental rights of the child,
such as, for example, access to education and health
care, the right to rest, leisure, play and recreation, and
the right to be cared for and to have regular contact
with their parents and peers. These factors can have
an irreversible physical, psychological and moral
impact on the development, health and wellbeing of a
child.
Lack of Research:
Although domestic service is known to be one of the
most widespread forms of child employment in the
world, very little research has been done into it and
there is limited reliable information on which to base
campaigns.

Positive and Negative aspects of working children
Positive aspects

Negative aspects

• Development of self-reliance, sense of responsibility,
independence and general character formation.

• Children work more than they should and become too
fatigued to work well in school.

• Stimulates the mind, mental growth, and thinking
capacity.

• Some parents insist on children working at the expense
of school and play.

• Skills are acquired for future life.

• Thwarted attainment and children become poor
achievers, do not do homework, and neglect private
study.
• Exposed to health risks (eg HIV/AIDS), mental and
physical growth stunted.
• Absenteeism grows and temptation from paid work to
abscond and drop-out.

• Learning of cultural ways of life.
• Providing physical exercise and change of activity from
academic work.

• Provides an understanding of the environment in which
the child lives.
• Girls tend to be overworked and children often
exploited in inappropriate work (eg beer brewing, selling
• Necessary for the economy of the child and its family. in pubs or late at night, heavy manual labour).
• Reduces temptation to join bad groups.
• The world of work and adulthood is brought home to
the child.

• There might be an association between working and
children involvement in undesirable behaviour;
delinquency, promiscuity and prostitution.

Abid- a Child Domestic Labourer

“Attention, Education & Toil
can really help Child Domestic
Workers to better their plight.”
Abi comes from a modest rural family of Anantnag. He started
working as domestic worker
in class 7th
. at the 12 years when he was
only to join a private school. Presently he is in class 11th at Govt Hr.
Sec. School.

Abi’s

KEY MESSAGES

Child domestic workers
Should be provided
Social protections like
healthcare, insurance
education, etc.

Society needs creative
and innovative solutions
to protect child domestic
workers.

Make our Future Bright,
Shape our Future Right.
Stop Child Labour.

In Jammu & Kashmir, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000
children between the ages of 6-15 are working as
street vendors, domestic workers, agricultural
labourers, factory workers, laundry workers and
helpers for mechanics, with the vast majority (73%)
working in rural areas. Overall more boys than girls in
Kashmir are working but it is not clear whether
domestic work is sufficiently counted in child labour
estimates as child domestic workers.
Child domestic labour, like other forms of child labour,
is a common household strategy that is often used to
reduce costs and/or to increase income (ILO, 2009;
Camacho, 1999; Bhat, 2005). On the one hand, it may
offer opportunities for children that may not be
available in their own households. On the other hand,
it may put thousands of children under harsh working
conditions. While as OAC (Orphans and Children) in
Kashmir has attracted scholars’, policymakers’ and
NGOs’ attention over the last few years, the
experiences of child domestic workers in Kashmir has
not been thoroughly studied. Child domestic workers
are objectively vulnerable due to their employment in
a high-risk form of labour, and their experience of
exploitation on the basis of their gender, age and
social class.

Development, Anantnag took to undertake an
exploratory study on child domestic workers in
Kashmir.
The aim of the study is three-fold:
1. to understand the complex working and living
conditions of child domestic workers;
2. to address the vulnerability of children
employed in the domestic sector; and
3. To explore the opportunities and benefits
available for them in this environment.
Moreover, the study provides first-hand baseline data
on employers of child domestics, former and current
child domestic workers and their families. It has
inquired into the opinions of children, employers,
recruiters and families who are impacted by child
domestic labour. In addition this study aims to
contribute towards the expansion of child protection
as well as the inclusion of child domestic workers in
national policies and laws. Furthermore, it is
anticipated that the findings of this study may be used
to mobilize efforts of national, international and civil
society organizations to include child domestic
workers’ specific needs in child and labour protection
policies wherever appropriate.

To address this gap, in November 2012, Rao Farman
Ali lead Institute of Public Policy Research and

In Kashmir, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000
children between the ages of 6-15 are working
as
street
vendors,
domestic
workers,
agricultural
labourers,
factory
workers,
laundry workers and helpers for mechanics,
with the vast majority (73%) working in rural
areas.

F.A Rao lead IPPRD, Anantnag took
to undertake an exploratory study
on
child
domestic
workers
in
Kashmir.

Eldest of Gorsi Brothers- An ex- Domestic child Labourer

"I pledge that I will not
support child labour in
any form. Further i will
support any effort to
eliminate it."
GORSI’s
KEY MESSAGES

Government should
embed protections for
domestic workers across all
departments – labour,
justice, social protection etc.
Government must research and
record the value of domestic
work – because it is the only
sector neglected thus far.
Not all child domestic workers are
exploited. There are good employers
who take care of their education too.
I always beseech Allah for peace to
my employers departed soul. He
treated me like his youngest son.

“The ILO Convention on
Decent Work for Domestic
Workers
presents
a
tremendous opportunity.
Ratification is an entry
point to institutionalize the
protection of domestic
workers, and states will be
accountable for elimination
of
all
forms
of
discrimination
especially
labour discrimination.”

Government must research
and record the value of
domestic work – because it is
the only sector neglected thus
far.

Gorsi’s Story:
Working in Samsung Mobiles at DELHI as an executive, he strives to get recognised
recorded and rewarded the value of domestic work to the economy
Gorsi the eldest from a Gujjars family of Nagrend

Gorsi spend a year or so doing little works like

village of Y K Pora Qazigund had never been to school

fetching & feeding cattle, however he developed

for he had no liking for the dull environment of a

interests in books. Seeing this, his employers son – a

government school. He had a flare doing things on

govt teacher enrolled him in class fourth of his school

own. He spend his whole days roaming in the jungles

directly and after annual exams discharged him to

in the vicinity. Fed up with the lashing his child every

attend a school in the village. Later Gorsi was sent to

evening his father one day decided to send his child

an English medium Private school. He completed 10th

away. It was only out of the love for the father feared

and as he had no interest in bookish knowledge the

that the child may fall victim to the Gun. He told this

family sent Gorsi to Gautama Buddha ITI Noida were

to his brother-in-law of DH Pora Kulgam, who advised

he did a Diploma in Mobile Repairing and Networking.

him to send the child as a domestic help to family in a

The family bore all his expenses.

village in vicinity of Anantnag. Gorsi’s Mamu (Uncle)
knew the family well. He also thought that since the
children in the family were all well read, somehow this
will motivate Gorsi towards School.

During the Course he received an offer to work in
Samsung Mobiles which he accepted. He started
working assiduously and has there been in the Co.
since 2010. Gorsi today earns Rs. 30000 a month but

So in June 2002 the Uncle accompanied the child

he regrets that he has had low education... had he

(Gorsi) and his mother to the family. The trio spend

been an engineering graduate he would have been

two nights at the village and after being satisfied Gorsi

earning 70000 plus as salary... to all such children

was left to live with the family. Gorsi was 9 years old

Gorsi spells out, “Dream big ... Read!” &” Dig into

by then.

Books.”

To all children
in Child Labour
Gorsi says,
“Dream big ...
Read!” &” Dig
into Books.”

Gorsi spend a year or so doing little
works like fetching & feeding cattle,
however, he developed interests in
books. Seeing this, his employers son –
a govt teacher enrolled him in class
fourth of his school directly and after
annual exams discharged him to attend
a school in the village.

RECRUITMENT OF CHILD DOMESTIC WORKERS
In Kashmir, child domestic labour typically involves the
migration of children from an economically vulnerable
household and/or region (e.g. typically rural areas
although Child domestic workers may also come from
poor urban areas) to a more affluent household and/or
region (e.g. Gujjars sending their children to urban
centres or wealthier rural areas). Gorsi brothers, three
former child domestic workers, moved from their
original village Nagrend in Y K Pora to an affluent
household in Anantnag, with the help of a relative.
Most of the cases we met reflected this characteristic.

Entry Factors:
Poverty is the main reason for children’s entry into
domestic work. For example, child domestic workers
like Gorsis reported working to pay for school and in
some cases the child domestic workers like Nitta
worked to pay for family expenses.
Family and child poverty may be due to
unemployment, debt, regional or local conflict, family
death and illness, excessive school fees, declining
economy, rising inflation or natural disasters such as
drought. Child domestic work then becomes a strategy
to reduce household costs and/or increase household
income. Gullraiz from Magam ended as a Child
Domestic Worker (left school and joined work force)
only to pay for the extra medical-expenses that the
family had to cough up for his father has contracted
Hepatitis C.
Importantly, child domestic workers consistently
express their desire to assist their families by working.
Barriers to education can also contribute to children
entering domestic work such as when schooling is
financially inaccessible or considered irrelevant or
unproductive.

Some child domestic workers are motivated to seek
out domestic work because of their educational
aspirations (e.g. having an employer who sponsors a
worker’s education, or by earning money to pay for
school fees). Abid started working as a labourer right
from age 12 when he was in Class 7th. He wanted to go
to a private school like his friends but due to meagre
income of his father it was not possible. He toiled hard
and was able to enrol in a private school in class eight.
Now he is in class 11th and in winters he moves out of
the valley to sell Kashmiri Shawls as a Shawl Vendor in
Northern India. Further it is found that when girls drop
out from school, they are more likely to join the
domestic service sector, than any other sector of the
informal labour market.
Almost all the employers reported that they prefer
using their social networks as a means to recruit
domestic workers rather than the recruiters. Amina, a
31-year-old teacher, who is currently seeking a 13year-old girl to babysit her 1-year-old son during her
working hours, confided that recruiters cannot be
trusted in this case. “I’m uncomfortable regarding the
relationship of the girls [child domestic workers] with
the recruiter; what if he sleeps with her and she gets
pregnant? They can come and accuse my husband for
that. He could recruit her for sex work, or so. You
never know. It’s much more secure to get someone
through the doorman or friends.” As a result, Amina
has asked the wife of the municipal sweeper, who also
comes and clean her house and maintain its lawns, to
find her a trustworthy girl from the area.
Kulsum, an employer in her mid-forties, reported that
she prefers getting domestic workers through family
and friends so that she feels safe and ensures that the
girl is trustworthy.

Employers prefer using
their social networks as
a means to recruit
domestic workers rather
than the recruiters.

Similar to the employer, sending families often
reported that they prefer to send their children
especially daughters to either work for people they
know, or through people they know (recruiters/ family
member).
In case of families who lost their male bread- earners
in the turmoil or were reported as disappeared, the
children took to work in order to support their
families. These children were given work by their
neighbours as a gesture of solidarity. Even in certain
cases the rich of area paid them above par. For
example, Akbar joined a neighbours tea-stall after his
father disappeared, leaving both his mother and his
grandmother under the mercy of rich people in the
area.
With sending families, the most common recruitment
means in village and poor urban settings is an aunt,
uncle or neighbour who may have moved to work in
City/town. All the sending families reported that they
did not seek jobs for their children, but rather
employers/recruiters came to seek a child to help.

Kulsum, an employer
in her mid-forties,
reported that she
prefers
getting
domestic
workers
through family and
friends so that she
feels safe and ensures
that the girl is
trustworthy.

In case of families who lost their male bread- earners in the
turmoil or were reported as disappeared, the children took
to work in order to support their families. These children
were given work by their neighbours as a gesture of
solidarity. Even in certain cases the rich of area paid them
above par. For example, Akbar joined a neighbours tea-stall
after his father disappeared, leaving both his mother and his
grandmother under the mercy of rich people in the area.

B. Jan- A Resident Domestic Child Labourer

“Child labour is wrong and
every possible action needs to be
taken to put an end to it. I aspire
to be like my ma’am..... It is why
I’m into it.... lest I hate it! ”
B. Jan’s
KEY Messages

Domestic work is the work that
makes all other work possible.
I have a dream. I work to realize it.
Despite being dull in studies and
having paucity of time I study hard
for I cherish to be like my ma’am.
Muslim Communities should
support orphans, destitute and
disabled children in giving them a
brighter future. A small investment
in children’s future can prevent
them from mistreatment and
getting into child labour.
We demand labour laws and
contracts that will recognise
domestic work as real work and
end the exploitation of workers,
once and for all

B. Jan- 13 years is a
resident domestic worker
presently studying in class
7th. She attends a govt. girls
school. She comes off a
landless labourer’s family
from a village in vicinity of
Kulgam. She has three more
siblings at home. Her
employer denied having her
employed but admitted that
she puts up in her residence
and lives as her sister
despite the fact that she is
older than her mother.
B. Jan believes in
action! Though she is dull in
studies yet she maintains a keen
interest in them. She never
misses a school day. Besides she
has a dream to realise.... to be like
her ma’am (employer).
She gets Rs 500 monthly
and hands it over to her mother.
At times she keeps Rs. 50 for
herself. Her mother spends this
amount on her other kin.

Glimpses of Painting Competitions

Children have their own world. To known their
feelings on Child Labour in Domestic work
through colours, a painting competition was
organised in the lawns of Dak Bungalow
Anantnag. Renowned Cartoonist B.A.B besides
famous social workers interacted and
distributed prizes among the winners of the
competition.

PREFERENCE FOR CHILD DOMESTIC WORKERS
The question of why employers preferred hiring a child
domestic worker as opposed to an adult domestic
worker is a billion dollar question. Although the
majority of the employers report that they prefer to
hire domestic workers who are 16 years old and above,
as many ended-up hiring domestic workers who are as
young as 9 years of age.
1.
As a live-in help: one of the most
important characteristics that is most favoured by
employers is the 24-hour/7-day availability of live-in
child domestics. Child domestic workers don’t have
obligations because they are usually not married. They
are reliable and easier to be with you all the time.
2.
Obedience and non-competence:
Obedience, for example, is a significant quality with
child domestic workers. It was often mentioned that
child domestic workers typically do not have a say and
will not compete with you like older workers. Adult
domestic workers do not like to take orders and argue a
lot, whereas child domestic workers will not argue
with you. They will just do what you tell them to do.
They are not opinionated.

Innocence of child
workers: Child Domestics are too
3.

domestic

young to flirt
with other sexes in the house, or they are not envious
and will not look at what we have. While as adult

Domestic workers would look at their counter sexes, or
may envy the employer and his children because
he/she enjoys a better socioeconomic status.
4.
Malleability: Child Domestics workers are
malleable. Unlike adult domestics who have already
acquired values and morals, child domestic workers
can be moulded according to the employers’ taste, if
treated well.
5.
Children are cheapest Labour:
Many people in Kashmir engage children as domestic
help because they are a cheaper and more malleable
source of household labour than adults.

Confusion between patronage and
exploitation: There are many ambiguities about
6.

this situation. Some child domestics come from very
poor backgrounds and the mother is widowed or
abandoned. Their placement in a 'better home' is seen
as an advantage. That they help out around the house is
seen as a natural repayment for favour, and training for
a future life of domesticity. The fact that many are on
duty all hours of day and night, are discriminated
against in the household, and sacrifice their own
childhood to the well-being of the employer is not
regarded. This is because of confusion between 'work
as upbringing', and 'work as employment', and between
patronage and exploitation.

Obedience, for example, is a significant quality with child
domestic workers. It was often mentioned that child domestic
workers typically do not have a say and will not compete with you
like older workers. Adult domestic workers do not like to take
orders and argue a lot, whereas child domestic workers will not
argue with you. They will just do what you tell them to do. They
are not opinionated.

7. Peer Pressure & Bandwagon Effect: This is
mostly a case with girls of lower income locality. If in
their locality someone made well after becoming a
domestic labourer, their success stories attracted them.
Often this made them to think that they too can earn
and assist their families and to pay for their future
dowries.
8. Educational misfits: Current child labour
migrants are often found to be educational misfits who
either fail or do not perform well in school. As a result,
they may suffer regular beatings from teachers and/or
from their parents. Moreover, having to resit an exam
is often associated with embarrassment and a serious
loss of face vis-à-vis friends and peers and other than
providing an alternative and often fulfilling career
path, work in households also provide an often
welcome opportunity to escape difficult domestic
circumstances.
9. Domestic discord or conflicts, in particular
between fathers and sons, was a principal reason for
why young boys left home, often on their own
initiative and even without informing their parents.

10. Domestic work as part of
upbringing: The idea of work as part of childhood
training has a very long history. Since time
immemorial, parents have brought up their children -especially daughters -- to perform tasks about the
house. Their help is needed in washing dishes,
collecting water, minding livestock, looking after
younger children and all the other daily activities that
make the household function. Instruction in doing
these things correctly is seen as a vital preparation for
the child's future adulthood, marriage and parental life.

couples, it is also not unusual for parents to send a
child to live in another household for part of his or her
upbringing (this is a common practice in GUJJARS of
Kashmir). This might be because the relatives are
childless or infirm or because they are better off and
can help a youngster make a good start in life.
However, the important change today is that this kind
of traditional child help is becoming commercialised.
Increasingly, today many children and young people
work in households which are not related to their own.
Parents and employers see nothing wrong with this -the job is a favourable opportunity for the child.
Very poor parents are relieved that the child will be
housed and fed. They may hope that the child will
strike lucky -- maybe marry someone rich. After all,
many go from rural areas to work in town, where life is
supposed to be much better. The employer, meanwhile,
may sincerely intend to look after the child and attend
to his or her interests.
But the actual consequences may be quite different.
Child domestics – especially where they are living in -are often very far away from family and home. They
are also under the control of adults whose first concern
is not their well-being, but their contribution to the
well-being of the household.
The love and care all children ought to receive,
together with other kinds of preparation for adult life
than practice in domestic skills, is missing or cannot be
guaranteed. Such children are also likely to be denied
the chance of going to school. And if they are overworked, neglected or abused, they have no-one to turn
to and may feel isolated and trapped. When this kind
of traditional childhood training becomes a job,
therefore, the child's development is adversely
affected.

Where a family group includes a number of related

It is also not unusual for parents to send a
child to live in another household for part of
his or her upbringing (this is a common
practice in GUJJARS of Kashmir).

Take-Home Pay Issues
Wages, as is the case with Child domestic labourers in
rest of the world, in Kashmir are typically very low for
child domestic workers. Child domestic workers may
not be paid directly for their work, with part or all of
their earnings going directly to their parents or to an
intermediary. Some child domestic workers are not
paid a wage but are paid in-kind as in exchange for
room and board.
All the current and former child domestic workers,
except those who work alongside their mothers,
earned much the same on a regular basis. However,
their rates are significantly lower than adult domestic
workers. The average annual income for child workers
is Rs 30 or 1/10 the average income for an adult daily
wager. Boys’ wages on average are more than double
the average wage for girls and wages of urban child
workers are greater than wages for rural child
workers.
Former child domestic workers often emphasized that
they never touched the salaries they earned when
they first started to work. The money typically went to
the mothers and was spent on male siblings and/or on
household expenses.

Employers are aware that the salaries they pay go to
the parents in the end. They often use this to claim
that parents of child domestic workers are exploitative
and sell their children for money. This helps them to
construct a contrasting image, coloured with religious
and moral discourses, of exploitative parents versus
the merciful employer, to rationalize hiring child
domestic workers. They often distinguish themselves
as the merciful employer, who is not like other
employers.
There is also a gender difference in how salaries
earned by child labour are used. Girls often gave their
full salaries to their mothers who would decide
whether to spend the money on younger siblings’
education or household expenses. However, they
related that their brothers often spend the salaries
they earned on clothes, leisure, going out with friends,
and very rarely on the family.
Further, boy domestic workers are more likely to
report working because of prior negative educational
experiences but with the goal to learn a profession,
whereas girls identified different aspirations such as
wanting to earn their own money or helping their
family financially.

Chairman ,South Kashmir Civil Society, SKCS,
Prof. A.G Mir applauded the efforts taken by
voluntary organisations like IPPRD, Save the
Children , JKYT , DCPAG to develop a
structured mechanism in abolishment of
child labour in Anantnag district. SKCS will
always support such like ventures.

Policies suggested to end child labour in domestic work!
There is no magic recipe; the problems posed by child labour in domestic work and to protect young children
require a complementary approach in different domains and at different levels, including: developing statistical
visibility and further enhancing knowledge on child domestic work to better capture child labour and youth
employment in domestic work; awareness-raising and advocacy to transform social attitudes and to address
the widespread acceptance of child labour in domestic work and the beliefs amongst employers and parents
that these situations represent a protective and healthy environment for children – especially girls; promoting
the ratification and implementation of the child labour Conventions No.138, No. 182 and of Convention No.189
concerning decent work for domestic workers; taking legislative and policy action to end child labour and to
protect young workers in domestic work:


Cooperation is fundamental to effective action to eliminate child labour in domestic work, to protect
young children from abusive working and employment conditions and to promote decent work for all
domestic workers. Governments at large, workers and employers’ organizations, civil society groups,
and international organizations have to continue to play a vital role in giving greater visibility to the
issues and problems of child labour in domestic work.




identifying types of hazardous domestic work for children;
Regulating the working and living conditions of domestic workers, with special attention to the needs
of young domestic workers. This should include strict limits on hours of work, the prohibition of night
work, restrictions on work that is excessively demanding, and monitoring mechanisms on working and
living conditions;
o Introduction of night schooling for Children working as domestic workers;
o short-term vocational and technical courses for trained Child labourers especially in automobile
workshops;
o Effective amendments in Abolishment of Child Labour Act 2010 of J&K
o Adoption of appropriate penalties;
o Provision of complaint mechanisms;
o Facilitation of access to justice and legal redress;
o Effective labour inspection that is authorized by law to enter premises in order to enforce
provisions applicable to domestic work.
o Paying attention to child migrants vulnerability to abusive working conditions in domestic
work;
o Formalizing the employment relationship in domestic work through written contracts / model
employment contracts;
Enhancing the role of the social partners and extending freedom of association and effective
recognition of the right to collective bargaining in domestic work, including the recognition to young
domestic workers of legal working of the right to join or form unions;
Enlisting the support of employers of domestic workers;
Providing support to child domestic workers against child labour and for decent youth employment;
Supporting the worldwide movement against child labour;
Engaging with child domestic workers as agents for change;
Joining forces to promote decent work for all: Better together.









Cartoonist Daily Srinagar Times... Bashir Ahmad Bashir

“It is time for introspection
and media must immediately
take steps to remove hypocrites
within the fraternity and
establish a concrete policy, as a
part of self regulation”

“I
.”

B.A.B’S
KEY MESSAGES

Employers are aware that the
salaries they pay go to the parents
in the end. They often use this to claim
that parents of child domestic workers
are exploitative and sell their children
for money. This helps them to construct
a contrasting image, coloured with
religious and moral discourses, of
exploitative parents versus the merciful
employer, to rationalize hiring child
domestic workers. They often distinguish
themselves as the merciful employer, who
is not like other employers.

Famous Cartoonist and editor of
daily Urdu Newspaper, Srinagar
Times - heading the competition
jury to decide the toppers in
painting competition said that it is
the proper time for introspection
and media must immediately take
steps to remove hypocrites within
the fraternity
and establish a
concrete policy, as a part of self
regulation.

Patron Jammu Kashmir Yateem Trust(JKYT)

“Our organisation will start a
research based work on child
labour and we expect
constructive outcomes
vis-à-vis child caught up in the
snare of domestic work”
JKYT Chairman, Z.A Tak
KEY MESSAGES

We need to spell out the amount
and kinds of work to be done so
that mainstream workers get
daily and weekly rest and paid
annual leave in Industry,
Commerce, Trade and Business.

During the valedictory speech Z.A
Tak, Patron, JKYT, thanked all the
participants of the workshop and
said that JKYT will start a research
based work on child labour and
we expect constructive outcomes
vis-à-vis child caught up in the
snare of domestic work.

The average annual income for child workers is Rs 30 or 1/10
the average income for an adult daily wager. Boys’ wages on
average are more than double the average wage for girls and
wages of urban child workers are greater than wages for
rural child workers.

S A Shakeel, General Secretary, South Kashmir Federation of
Industrialists (SKFI)

“As radical humanists we
must discourage Child
Labour from Society”

SHAKEEL’S
KEY MESSAGES

“Child
domestic
workers,
especially girls
and
young
women, need special protections
from discrimination and violence
including sexual violence.”
“We must work at the local level
– to convince local governments,
employment agencies and
employers to protect domestic
workers.”

General Secretary, South Kashmir Federation of
Industrialists (SKFI), S. A Shakeel, said that
industry
needs energetic, educated and
knowledgeable human resource, those who
indulge in child labour in the industrial sector is
damaging factor, keeping in view the child
labour abolition act, as radical humanists we
must discourage Child Labour in all spheres of
our Society.

The love and care all children ought to receive,
together with other kinds of preparation for adult
life than practice in domestic skills, is missing or
cannot be guaranteed. Such children are also likely
to be denied the chance of going to school.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) records the understanding arrived between South Kashmir
Federation of Industrialists (SKFI) and District Child Protection Advisory Group Anantnag
Objective:
One of the challenges which we are facing today is that a large number of children are out of schools
and engaged in work. Since education is a fundamental right, strategy for the elimination of child labour
needs to be inclusive and a universal approach has to be adopted. Thus there is a need to use other legal
instruments as well to effectively abolish child labour. These are mainly the Bonded Labour System
Abolition Act and the Juvenile Justice Act 2013. Working with children is both rewarding and demanding.
Goal:
To ensure that there is total abolition of child labour in industry and commerce and all children in 6-14
years age group enjoy their right to education.
The SKFI declares all forms of abuse and exploitation suffered by children unacceptable. It also vows to take steps to
protect children and their families from exploitation and takes apprehensions of abuse of children by staff, donors or
partners seriously and is committed to prevent them. The SKFI through this Child Protection Policy expresses its
concern and endeavour to take measures for protecting and keeping children safe from abuse, neglect, exploitation and
violence.
Child Protection is a collective as well as an individual responsibility. All staff members will be made familiar with the
need for a Child Protection Concern in all our activities.
VOLUNTEERING & RECRUITMENT










No child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other
hazardous employment.
Prohibition of engaging children in factories, etc 15-18 years in hazardous working conditions in industry and
commerce.
All present & future employees, volunteers and members of SKFI will be informed about the Child Protection
Policy. They will be asked to sign a declaration for upholding child protection as part of membership.
Special attention will be given to the areas of concern relating to child protection. During the recruitment process
in private industry applicants shall be asked about their experience of working with children.
SKFI volunteers will be imparted training about the Federation’s Child Protection Policy. They will be provided a
copy of the Policy and will be required to sign a declaration that they have received and understood the contents.
Individuals who are hired as contractors or suppliers will be provided a copy of the Child Protection Policy and
required to sign a declaration to the effect that they have received and understood it.
It will be ensured through a monitoring mechanism that confidential information concerning child is not leaked /
misused. The child’s dignity shall be preserved even if under compulsion the reality has to be presented about the
child.
Where there are apprehensions of child abuse Managers should inform authorized persons of SKFI and follow
proper mechanism to investigate.

BEHAVIOUR PROTOCOLS
Behaviour protocols are rules of appropriate and proper behaviour, which are designed to protect children and are also
intended to prevent adults from false accusations, inappropriate behaviour and abuse regarding children. These
protocols apply to Employees, Volunteers, Board members, contractors, sponsors and visitors to the Projects.
 SKFI personnel and visitors must not stay alone with one or more children, whether in staff accommodation,
project premises or elsewhere.
 SKFI personnel and visitors must not fondle, hold, hug or touch minors in an inappropriate or culturally
insensitive way.

PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED OR ACTUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN
If SKFI receives any information about, or observe actual or suspected abuse anywhere in industry, owner of the
industry shall immediately inform the higher authorities of SKFI. Where ever deemed, necessary, the matter will be
referred for further investigation.
 Any member of SKFI staff who has knowledge or suspicion that a child is at risk must report this to the higher
authorities of SKFI, who will determine what action is to be taken.
COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT CHILDREN
 All print material and visual documents about children shall use pictures that are decent and presentable, not
presenting the children as victims, or distressed children shall be adequately clothed. Poses and postures of children
that could be interpreted as immoral shall not be recorded. Language that implies a relationship of power shall also
be avoided. The Child’s dignity shall be preserved even if under compulsion the reality about the child has to be
presented.
 Websites and other promotional materials shall not use scanned images of children without formal permission of
the caretaker and the parent(s)/Guardian(s) of the child. This permission shall be in writing.
 Child’s whereabouts that could be used to identify the location of a child within the state shall not be used on
websites or in any other form of communication related to child.
 Individuals or Organizations seeking use of resources such as videos or photographs shall be required to tender an
undertaking with the concerned establishment, for the proper use of materials. The undertaking will include a
provision to the effect that if the material is used for a purpose or in a manner other than the one agreed upon, the
borrowing individual or organization is subjected to legal action. Furthermore, failure to adhere to the agreed upon
use of the material will result in the immediate termination of the permission to use the subject material and/or
require immediate return of all materials provided by the concerned establishment.
SAFE ARRANGEMENTS & STRUCTURES
 SKFI shall ensure that arrangements for not engaging children as employees or labourers.
 It will be ensured that policies and Practices are revised at regular intervals, usually at least after every three
Years.
 It will be ensured that any matter of child labour abuse is reported properly and action taken, as soon as
possible.

MOU Effective Date:
This Memorandum of Understanding shall be effective from the date of signing by both the parties.
Signed on Wednesday June the Twelfth, Two Thousand and Thirteen.
SD/=
South Kashmir

SD/=
District Child Protection

Federation of Industrialists

Advisory Group

The boy domestic workers are more
likely to report working because of
prior negative educational experiences
but with the goal to learn a profession,
whereas girls identified different
aspirations such as wanting to earn
their own money or helping their family
financially.

Zaffar Farooq Salati, President South Kashmir Federation of
Industrialists (SKFI)
“As a part of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR)
it is the bounden duty of ours not to involve Child as
a labourer in Industry, so, we have taken a pledge
through an MoU that our fraternity will help in
recuing children from labour and will try to support
them for getting better education! ”

ZAFAR’S
KEY MESSAGES

It is the bounden duty of SKFI not to
involve Child as a labourer in Industry.
Skills development training for
domestic workers benefits workers
by improving their employability
and building confidence.
Employers also benefit when
their workers undergo
training.

SKFI will try to support
victims of child labour and
pave a way for their
sustainable development in
consultation with the experts
in the particular area.

Zafar Farooq Salati, President South Kashmir
Federation of Industrialist (SKFI) said that they
are committed to eradicate the menace of child
labour in our society in general and the body to
which I am the head in particular.
“Ours being an organised sector, so it is
mandatory upon us to aware our fraternity
about the menace of child labour, said Zafar,
adding that SKFI will try to support victims of
child labour and pave a way for their sustainable
development in consultation with the experts in
the particular area.

Zafar reiterated that as a part of Corporate
Social Responsibility(CSR) it is the bounden duty
of ours not to involve Child as a labourer in
Industry, so, we have taken a pledge through an
MoU that our fraternity will help in
rescuing children from labour and will
try to support them for getting better
education!

South Kashmir Federation of Industrialists (SKFI)

‘CHILD PROTECTION POLICY’
One of the challenges which we are facing today is that a large number of children are out of schools and engaged in
work. Since education is a fundamental right, strategy for the elimination of child labour needs to be inclusive and a
universal approach has to be adopted. Thus there is a need to use other legal instruments as well to effectively abolish
child labour. These are mainly the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act and the Juvenile Justice Act 2013. Working
with children is both rewarding and demanding.
Those who work with children cannot always count on dealing with loving and cooperative parents who will make
appropriate sacrifices for their children or give mental health professionals appropriate latitude to do their work
according to their own best judgment. Although there is a growing recognition of the autonomy of children and
respect for their input to matters affecting them, there remains a general lack of consensus as to when and how
children's input should be considered, even in everyday matters.
Goal
To ensure that there is total abolition of child labour in trade and commerce and all children in 6-14 years age
group enjoy their right to education. And will not engage children 15-18 years in hazardous working conditions in
Industry and its related activities.
The SKFI declares all forms of abuse and exploitation suffered by children unacceptable. It also vows to take steps to
protect children and their families from exploitation and takes apprehensions of abuse of children by staff, donors or
partners seriously and is committed to prevent them. The SKFI through this Child Protection Policy expresses its
concern and endeavour to take measures for protecting and keeping children safe from abuse, neglect, exploitation
and violence.
Child Protection is a collective as well as an individual responsibility. All staff members will be made familiar with the
need for a Child Protection Concern in all our activities.
SKFI believes that children have:
1.
Right to Life, Survival and Development of Personality.
2.
Right to Education.
3.
Right to Non-Discrimination
4.
Right to Participation and
5.
Right for Programs and approaches which are in the best interest of Children.
The SKFI declares all forms of abuse and exploitation suffered by children unacceptable. It also vows to take steps to
protect children and their families from exploitation. The SKFI takes apprehensions of abuse of children by staff,
donors or partners seriously and is committed to prevent them. The SKFI through this Child Protection Policy
expresses its concern and endeavour to take measures for protecting and keeping children safe from abuse, neglect,
exploitation and violence.
Child Protection is a collective as well as an individual responsibility. All staff members will be made familiar with the
need for a Child Protection Concern in all our activities.

VOLUNTEERING & RECRUITMENT
 No child below the age of 14 years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other
hazardous employment.
 Prohibition of engaging children in factories, etc 15--18 years in hazardous working conditions in trade and
commerce.
 All present & future employees, volunteers and members of the SKFI will be informed about the SKFI’s Child
Protection Policy. They will be asked to sign a declaration for upholding child protection as part of the
appointment or membership process.
 For all future appointments in the SKFI, a reliable character reference will be obtained (or an undertaking) and
special attention will be given to the areas of concern relating to child protection. During the interview process
applicants shall be asked about their experience of working with children.
 No Child up to fourteen years will be used as labourer or employee in Trade and commerce.
 All staff members and volunteers will be imparted training about the SKFI’s Child Protection Policy. They will be
provided a copy of the Policy and will be required to sign a declaration that they have received and understood
the contents.
 Individuals who are hired as contractors or suppliers will be provided a copy of the Child Protection Policy and
required to sign a declaration to the effect that they have received and understood it.
 It will be ensured through a monitoring mechanism that confidential information concerning child is not leaked /
misused. The child’s dignity shall be preserved even if under compulsion the reality has to be presented about
the child.
 Where there are apprehensions of child abuse Managers should inform the SKFI and follow proper mechanism
to investigate.
 Staff visiting the field for prolonged periods, will be given briefing on the incidence and indicators of child abuse

BEHAVIOUR PROTOCOLS
Behaviour protocols are rules of appropriate and proper behaviour, which are designed to protect children and are
also intended to prevent adults from false accusations, inappropriate behaviour and abuse regarding children. These
protocols apply to Employees, Volunteers, Board members, contractors, sponsors and visitors to the concerned
establishment Projects.
 SKFI personnel and visitors must not stay alone with one or more children or minors, whether in staff
accommodation, project premises or elsewhere.
 SKFI personnel and visitors must not fondle, hold, hug or touch minors in an inappropriate or culturally
insensitive way. ( in CWSN case it should be defined)
 Where possible and practical, the “two adult” rule, wherein two or more adults supervise all activities where
minors are involved and are present at all times, should be followed.
 SKFI personnel need to be aware that they may work with children who, because of the circumstances and
abuses they have experienced, may use a relationship to obtain “special attention”. The adult is always
considered responsible even if a child behaves seductively. Adults should avoid being in a compromising or
vulnerable position.
 Inappropriate behaviour towards children shall be a substantial reason for punitive action. It should be recorded
in service book.
 SKFI personnel must be careful about perception and use in their language as actions and relationships with
children.

PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING SUSPECTED OR ACTUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN
Should a member of SKFI Staff receive any information about, or observe actual or suspected abuse in a school or
anywhere, he or she shall immediately inform the higher authorities of SKFI. Where ever deemed by him necessary,
the matter will be referred for further investigation to any supervisory official.
 Any member of staff who has knowledge or suspicion that a child is at risk must report this to the higher
authorities of SKFI, who will determine what action is to be taken.
COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT CHILDREN
 All print material and visual documents about children shall use pictures that are decent and presentable, not
presenting the children as victims, or distressed children shall be adequately clothed. Poses and postures of
children that could be interpreted as immoral shall not be recorded. Language that implies a relationship of
power shall also be avoided. The Child’s dignity shall be preserved even if under compulsion the reality about the
child has to be presented.
 Web sites and other promotional materials shall not use scanned images of children without formal permission
of the caretaker and the parent(s)/Guardian(s) of the child. This permission shall be in writing.
 Child’s whereabouts that could be used to identify the location of a child within a country shall not be used on
websites or in any other form of communication related to child.
 Individuals or Organizations seeking use of concerned establishment/s resources such as videos or photographs
shall be required to tender an undertaking with the concerned establishment/s, for the proper use of materials.
The undertaking will include a provision to the effect that if the material is used for a purpose or in a manner
other than the one agreed upon, the borrowing individual or organization is subjected to legal action.
Furthermore, failure to adhere to the agreed upon use of the material will result in the immediate termination of
the permission to use the subject material and/or require immediate return of all materials provided by the
concerned establishment/s.
SAFE ARRANGEMENTS & STRUCTURES
SKFI shall ensure that arrangements and structures are in place to make sure that children are kept safe from harm.
 It will be ensured that policies and Practices are revised at regular intervals, usually at least after every three
years.
 It will be ensured that any matter of child abuse is reported properly and action taken, as soon as possible.
Child Protection Audit:
 Who have signed the Child Protection Policy can neither engage any child as domestic/help labour nor can
employ him/her for any hazardous work.

I declare that I adhere by all the principles mentioned in Child Protection Policy.
Name and Signature of Unit Holder
Name:…………………………………………Designation:………………………………………………
Unit/Factory
Address…………………………………....................Ph.No..…………………………
Email:……………………………………………………….
Date:……/…...../2013

M.No

………………………….

Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone, DDC, Anantnag

“A core group will be formulated which
will carry a ground survey on child
labour and exact number of children
involved it, look into the causes and
inferences with convergent thinking
on the menace.”

DDC’S
KEY MESSAGES

We must look inside our own
homes – how am I treating
my worker?
Domestic workers’ groups don’t
just need money – they need
training, confidence-building and
Domestic workers don’t have
to be domestic workers for life –
let’s empower them to create
sustainable livelihoods

Deputy Development Commissioner DDC, Anantnag ,
Dr. Farooq Ahmad Lone, was the Guest of Honour in
the function said that there seems to be a disconnect
between various administrative departments and we
will try to develop a coordinative approach vis-à-vis
elimination of child labour at district level, so,
alternatives of livelihood for children caught up in
child labour should be raised, which can help for their
recue.
“We must create a trust or raise a special fund for
such children,” DDC, Anantnag said, adding that a
core group will be formulated which will carry a
ground survey on child labour and exact number of
children involved it , look into the causes and
inferences with convergent thinking on the menace.
He further said that NGOs, Civil Society members and
several others shall be involved in the core group.

“We must create a trust or raise
a special fund for such children,”
DDC, Anantnag

Prof. A.G. Madhosh, renowned Educational Child Psychologist

“Don’t spoil the child,
spear the rod.”

PROP. A.G Madhosh’s
KEY MESSAGES

Renowned academician and educational child
psychologist Prof. A.G Madhosh in the capacity
of Chief Guest to the function said that after the
proper identification of child labourer a
comprehensive strategy should evolve through
lateral thinking for the proper and prepared
rehabilitation.

.

“It is encouraging that South Kashmir Civil
Society (SKCS) has come up to address the
problems of common stock of people in the
respective area of domain and it is more
laudable that the Institute of Public Policy
Research and Development, Save the Children,
JKYT, DCPAG is thinking for educational
creativeness”, Madhosh said, “Don’t spoil the
child, spear the rod.”

While quoting the success stories of
Switzerland and Austria, Prof. Madhosh said
that these two countries have focussed
upon Non-formal education, so it is
opportune time for Government to start
vocational trainings in schools and put into
practice a clear policy of vocationalisation
of education.
Schools have become exclusive institutions,
appropriate education provides roadmap
and goal is given by society, if social roots
are not strengthened—the education
system will collapse.

It is opportune time for Government to start
vocational trainings in schools and put into
practice a clear policy of vocationalisation of
education.

KEY MESSAGES

Nisar Ahmad Nisar
Deputy Director, Employment and
Counselling

G.M Dar ADC,
Anantnag

“Our society is presently in transitional phase
and is about to leap towards the loom of economic
orientation,” Dar said, “These problems instead
of alleviating get elevated.”
Deputy
Director,
Employment
and
Counselling, Nisar Ahmad Nisar said that
these kind of events and workshops will
surely give flip to eradicate child labour in
the society, my department will make it
mandatory for any enterprising person who
seeks our support and wants to establish
an income generating unit in Anantnag, to
be counselled about the menace of child
labour & its prevention.

Assistant Development Commissioner, ADC,
Anantnag G.M Dar said that child labour in
Kashmir in general and Anantnag in particular
is not an isolated problem.
“Our society is presently in transitional phase
and is about to leap towards the loom of
economic orientation,” Dar said, “These
problems instead of alleviating get elevated.”
Adding, Sangam and Charsoo sand digging
give a revenue of 50 crores annually , every
child who works in these areas earns Rs 100/=
for just 2-3 hours, which tells upon the
education of these children involved in such
labour.

“My department will make it mandatory for any
enterprising person who seeks our support and
wants to establish an income generating unit in
Anantnag, to be counselled about the menace of
child labour & its prevention.” Deputy Director,
Employment and Counselling- Anantnag.

Our Messages

District Social Welfare
Officer, DSO Anantnag

G.M District Industries Centre
Anantnag

General Manager, District Industries
Centre, Anantnag, Bilal Khursheed
said that such like programmes should
be carried in future also and
sensitisation of all sections of the
society is must.

District Social Welfare Officer DSO, Dr.
Zahoor Ahmad Raina said that need of
hour is to evolve a collective mechanism
for the eradication of child labour in
Anantnag. “Integrated Child Protection
Scheme (ICPS) has not been implemented
in the state of Jammu Kashmir; otherwise
it can also help in the rescuing of children
held up in child labour.

An official from Assistant Commissioner Labour Anantnag
adding to ADC Anantnag, said that their department has
produced 4 challans against erring people and dozens of
such cases have been identified and department is trying to
arrive to the final conclusion.

Impact of Child Labour: Family, Community and State
Child Labour and State Responsibility

We Kashmiri’s behave like the “proverbial- ostriches”.
For every wrong in our society earlier, we blamed the
Maharaja Dynasty Rule; today we blame the Indian
State. And we never blame ‘ourselves’ for all the
wrongs happening in our society! In other words,
when we blame the State for non-performing or
excesses, do we blame the State as an institution
external to us or as an institution internal to us?
Despite 62 years of State Responsibility, the
continuation and perpetuation of the structural
violence in the form of discrimination on the basis of
gender, caste and class, cannot be dismissed merely as
State’s non-performance. The instrumentation part of
the State also cannot be reduced to a technical
process, that when applied would solve the socioeconomic problems.
This may necessitate changing the mindset of the
people (administrators, politicians as well as masses),
which sees gujjars, poor and girls as expendable
categories. For that, one has to strike the roots of the
society, which legitimizes some of this mindset. The
roots lay in socio-cultural fabric of the society- its
religion and scriptures, dogmas and superstitions,
which manifest themselves within households as well.
Child Labour: Family and Community Responsibility

The use of child labour by poor families can be
explained through a poverty framework; its use by
middle income families has more to do with sociocultural factors.

In Indian Societies, where women are generally not
allowed to work outside their homes, certain
economic roles are attributed to the children. Women
cannot work, therefore they are “replaced” by males.
Here children’s employment complements those of
adult men and women; in the sense that “they are the
only persons in the society eligible for performing
certain tasks.” So child labour when is required by the
social structure or by cultural values, its abolition
through legislation is unlikely to be effective.
Family’s responsibility to take care of children does not
emanate from any legal framework. Family, as a social
institution, historically, has held the principal
responsibility for taking comprehensive care of
children. This is well recognized in the child rights
approach as right to family is one of the most
important right of a child. In most cases, the
exploitation of child within family is an extension of
the exploitation of family, but it is not true in all cases.
There are cases, where parents directly ‘exploit’
children in the name of socialization process, and
more general cases are, when parents discriminate
among children on gender basis. How else can one
explain that parents are not so poor for sending boys
to schools, but are poor for sending their girls to
school? Can we have legislation that prohibits child
labour within the household? Here it is not that the
idea is to ‘criminalize’ such parents, in the eyes of the
state. What is required is to ‘criminalize’ such parents
in the eyes of the community.

Right to education
Communities should have played a role in controlling
the deviant household, family, parents, sons and
daughters; however, the space is now gradually being
taken over by the State. In other words, the State is
acquiring control over these two institutions, but is not
retaining the responsibility associated with the
controlling power.

Approaches to address the problem of child labour
Legal Approaches:
The Constitution of India has an elaborate provision on
rights of children. There are certain articles in the
constitution that specifically address the problem of
child labour, and there are others that indirectly speak
about protecting children from exploitative labour.

Laws on children suffer from contradictions, and most
often, the interests of children have taken back seat.
The ambiguity in laws has helped employers to use
child labour as cheap labour, and has helped the State
in turning blind eye to many of these practices. The
need is a law prescribing minimum age of employment
for all occupations, hazardous or non-hazardous, in all
places of work, factories or farms or homes.

In regards to wage labourers (children), the employer
can be prosecuted for employing children. However, in
case of family (child) labour and street children, who
are largely self employed, the application of laws
become problematic, as law would then end up
victimizing poor parents and children.
With children being employed by parents, mostly
under compulsion, it becomes difficult to address this
problem using legal means. Employers to circumvent
laws are using this particular gap. Unfortunately, the
present turmoil in the state forces a situation where,
at times, parents and employers join together to
circumvent legislation when economic interests of
employers and social necessities of the families
correspond. Laws rather than eliminating child labour,
simply change the way in which children are exploited.
Since the State of Jammu & Kashmir enjoys special
status under Article 370 of Indian constitution and it
has its own constitution; the laws enacted in union of
India are to be passed by the Legislature of the state.
Right to Education is landmark legislation passed in
2009 by Indian parliament, however, it is an irony that
the state legislative assembly is yet enact it; reasons
could be others since inception of NC led coalition
government has other priorities wherein they can
draw the attention of masses in-order to tantalise
them. On the other side majority of the people in
either side of Jammu & Kashmir demand Azadi
(Independence) from both the dominions (India &
Pakistan) which arrived in various surveys conducted
from 2005 onwards.

Eliminating Child Labour through Education
The most important central government scheme on
child labour is the National Child Labour Project (NCLP)
scheme, which is but an education project, aimed at
setting up bridge school for “withdrawn” child
labourers. Most of the NGOs also have education
related programmes for the elimination of child
labour. These programmes are generally of Non
Formal Education (NFE) nature.
The good thing about this approach is that
theoretically a child labour is being withdrawn from
labour, and is enrolled into a bridge school, and later
she is mainstreamed into the formal education system.
A child is not only rescued but also rehabilitated,
through her induction into the development process.
Secondly, such an approach strengthens the
movement for universalization of elementary
education through common school system, as the
campaign against child labour converges into this
movement.
However, in respect of programmes that are
formulated for working children in a way that they can
combine their work with education, there are two
reasons why this cannot be an effective solution. One,
“child work” occupies a large part of the child’s time so
much that the child starts seeing schooling as burden,
because the schooling is at the expense of child’s time
for play and recreation. Two, child work affects the
child’s relation to education, in the sense, that working
children not only starts feeling that they are adults
already, but many a times get that kind of recognition
from the family and community. Owing to this, the
child does not feel the need for going to school and
loses patience and commitment to academic learning.
There is no denial that both these objectivesuniversalization of elementary education and total
elimination of child labour are interlinked. However,
there are some problems in the way these two
objectives are linked.

Firstly, there is a presumption that success in one
objective translates into success in the other objective.
It is often presumed that children are not going to
school because they are at work, or children are at
work, because they are not going to school, or parents
are not confident about the education system. One
has to clearly understand that these two are not
necessarily in cause-effect relationship; in fact, the
causes of each of them lie in various socio-economic
reasons that were discussed earlier.
Secondly, the linkages made between them has a very
dangerous implication, in the sense an illusion is being
created, whereby the increase in enrolment in schools
is being portrayed as success stories for the
elimination of child labour. It has been proved, many a
times, that most of the children enrolled in the NCLP
schools are not really ex-child labourers, but are those
non-working out of school children, who otherwise do
not have access to free education. Now what is
happening is that these children, who should have
become part of formal education system, are now
entering bridge schools and nonformal schools. NCLP
schools are actually hindering the achievements of
both the objectives. Many NGOs who claim all out of
school children as child labourers strengthen this
particular approach of the government, whereby the
success of putting some otherwise idle children into
low quality schools is shown as a grand step forward
for eliminating child labour.
Finally, one has to understand that causes of child
labour, as well as for illiteracy among children lie in
those social, economic and political reasons that get
manifested in the structure of economy and
production chains, which push families to
vulnerabilities.
Why the Govt. Of J& K hasn’t enacted such a scheme is
a mystery better known to our politico- bureaucratic
classes.

“Why the Govt. Of J& K hasn’t
enacted such a scheme is a
mystery better known to our
politico- bureaucratic classes”

Combating child labour, by keeping education as core
initiative, allows the state to ignore the negative
impacts of globalization. As the State is disinterested
or unwilling in incurring social and economic costs for
breaking this vicious cycle, it has taken recourse to
short-term low-cost solutions of setting up such bridge
schools, which actually are low quality education
alternative for all out of school children.
In this particular sense, it can be argued that free and
universal elementary education cannot be a panacea
for the elimination of child labour. Education is one of
the many solutions, and for the state, it is a short-term
solution. Education system in the present nature,
unfortunately, is a crucial tool in reproducing socioeconomic class structure, especially the sexual division
of labour. Hence, schooling will help the
disappearance of child labour only if social relations of
production will change. Child labour is required to be
addressed by a multitude of policies, especially the
policies that could address the structural elements and
lead to eliminating demand for child labour in the
labour market.
Other Measures
There have been attempts to link child labour to trade
especially through an imposition of global ban on child
labour products to force the elimination of the
practice of child labour and protect children's rights.
Such proposals come from industrialized nations, who
have to protect their own domestic industry. Such a
proposal does not eliminate child labour; rather it
displaces child labour to unorganized sector. Secondly,
the immediate impact of such global ban will affect not
only the macroeconomic stability of the nation but

also the non-child labour poor households in that
sector. Thirdly, such proposals do not enforce any
commitment to the rehabilitation of child labourers.
Finally, a global initiative with focus on trade alone will
rather than providing solutions to a problem that has
immediate adverse impact domestically, may only veil
the symptoms.
Even in domestic front, there are proposals to prohibit
buying and selling of goods made using child labour. As
concerned citizens, it becomes our duty that we do not
perpetuate the system that strives through child
labour services. Such a prescription, although, is good
in itself, there is a need to rethink on this prescription.
Generally, goods are produced by combined efforts of
child labour households as well as non-child labour
households. In the commodity chain, child labour may
be involved in one particular stage, and not in all
stages43. It is better to target at that particular stage.
Otherwise such a blanket prescription may have
adverse impact on those poor households who are not
using child labour.
Similarly, there are views that child labour problem
can be addressed through corporate social
responsibility. As child labour is not yet totally illegal, it
is suggested that corporate sector should come out
with voluntary codes which prohibit direct or indirect
use of child labour. There have been attempts to
inculcate the ideas of social responsibility among
corporate units, however their success have been very
limited. In fact, the very concept of corporate social
responsibility needs to be studied and analyzed,
especially when working with the mindset of rightsbased approach.

RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Reaching child domestic workers
The first priority in any efforts with child domestic
workers is to reach them, but for their hidden situation
this is no simple task. In addition to finding them via
their parents and employers, contact with them has to
be established by both direct and indirect routes,
including in parks, street markets and supermarkets, at
bus stops, places of worship, by going door-to-door,
via schools, community leaders and through centres,
shelters and hotlines. This requires not only
determination, but also sensitivity and the use of
effective information, education and communication
techniques.
Seeking opportunities for education is among the main
motivation for many children to enter domestic work –
and for their families to permit or encourage them to
do so. So schools can be a logical entry-point for
contact with such children. Teachers in many schools
can assist in identifying child domestic workers and
awareness-raising has to be undertaken in schools
attended by employers’ children – who can help to
reach child domestic workers as well as transform
employers’ behaviour in their own homes.
Word-of-mouth between domestic workers can play
an important role in identifying child domestic
workers.
A number of key lessons can be drawn from local
experience of reaching child domestic workers. It has
been found that making contact with child domestic
workers outside the household requires considerable
sensitivity. A particularly effective method of reaching
child domestic workers is through contact by another
young worker or a former child domestic worker. In
this regard following need to be kept in mind:

•

•

•

•

Engaging with the children of child domestic
worker’s employers can reduce discriminatory
behaviour in the home and can be an entry
point to enlisting support from employers
themselves.
It is important not to alienate employers but
instead to get them on board, or the child
domestic workers in their care may suffer.
Engaging in a positive and friendly way tends
to work best.
Where people are being sensitized to bring
cases of child labour in domestic work,
including its worst forms, to the attention of
the authorities, retaining the co-operation of
employers (if possible) is helpful. They will
respond best to officials they already know
and trust.
Children working in automobile workshops are
in a sense engineers in practice without formal
degrees. Short term technical evening course
programmes need to be conducted in concert
with local ITI’s.

2 Working on Prevention
approaches in source areas:

and

reintegration

Working with parents, families and communities of
origin of child labour has been found to be critical in
preventing children from entering hazardous
employment and in ensuring sustainable (re)integration for those returning home.
Identifying source communities and developing
practicable preventive interventions requires specific
approaches, some of which are pertinent to the
eradication of child labour more generally.

These include efforts to maintain children in school,
especially the enrolment of girls, as well as enhancing
the quality of schooling and of school environments so
that parents and children are motivated to maintain
attendance and not drop out at an early age.
Augmenting family income, especially for women, is
another strategic intervention designed to reduce the
need for children to work.
A key component of prevention has been the necessity
of building awareness among families and the wider
community that the practice of children entering
domestic work may not be as beneficial as they had
been led to believe. A variety of tools are to be used
for this purpose, including community dialogues,
dramas, radio, poster campaigns and children’s clubs
in schools.
Several lessons have emerged from efforts to prevent
and eliminate child labour in domestic work and to
reintegrate withdrawn children:
•

•

•

Awareness-building among children, parents
and among community members generally, is
the
key
to
both
prevention
of
recruitment/trafficking, and to the withdrawal
from employer households of child domestic
workers who are in child labour.
The relevant public services and civil society
groups, can provide shelter and rehabilitation
for rescued victims, and play an important role
in information, awareness-building and in
orientation/facilitation.
Maintaining contact with their families is not
only a protective mechanism for child
domestic workers, but is also important for
their smooth return home if and when
necessary. Additionally, regular dialogue
between employers and parents of child
domestic workers can help in sustaining
familial relationships.

•

Reintegration of a child labourer performing
domestic work into her or his family requires
material support to the child and/or family in
addition to continued monitoring by
community leaders contact and counselling
with the relatives and the child, and should be
in her or his best interest. It may also require
or other appropriate third parties.

3 Responding to education and training needs
Top priority for almost all child domestic workers is the
desire to go to school. Most of them understand the
value of learning to build successful lives. However,
the negative school experiences of some child
domestic workers has also focused attention on the
need to improve teacher training, change
discriminatory attitudes, and upgrade school facilities
for girls in particular. Non-formal education or “bridge
courses” are commonly provided in cases where
formal schooling is not available, or where catch-up
classes are necessary to facilitate entry into
mainstream education. The scope of these classes
range from academic subjects, especially basic
reading, writing, and numeracy to complementary
topics, such as life skills, creative activity,
communications, and other issues not necessarily
covered in a formal curriculum.
4 Getting employers on board
Identifying and assisting child domestic workers
through engagement with their employers is a highly
effective and sustainable strategy. However, is not
easy to do. NGOs can undertake time intensive doorto-door method. This can help to convince employers
to alter their view towards their child domestic
workers.

Getting employers on board takes persistence and
sensitivity. Key lessons include:
•

•

•

Enabling employers of young domestic
workers to see schooling and vocational
training not as unhelpful distractions but as
positive advantages for young workers in their
home, including for her or his manner and
performance in the household.
Sustaining this support for young workers in
domestic work requires regular follow-up
contact with the employer.
Mechanisms for productive engagement with
employers of young domestic workers are
important. Centre-based programmes should
establish community networks to monitor
violations of child rights in the neighbourhood
and promote changed attitudes towards child
domestic work and an end to violence in the
home.

5 Helping child domestic workers to help themselves
The right of children to participate in decisions
affecting their lives is enshrined in the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child and in ILO Convention No.
182. It requires a shift from adult perceptions of
children as passive victims of child labour, abuse, and
violence towards understanding them as citizens and
individuals capable of analysing and responding to
their situations and problems.
Child domestic workers have, in numerous ways,
demonstrated themselves to be central agents of
change in their own lives, and in the lives of children in
similar situations. Invariably, soliciting the views of
child domestic workers – including the very youngest –
provides an essential perspective on their situation
and needs, as well as resulting in information with
which to target assistance to combat child labour and
to promote decent youth employment more
effectively.

In regular consultations with child domestic workers
undertaken at local level, they have commented on
the importance of service providers and adult
decision-makers recognizing their competence and
agency, and on assistance which builds individual and
collective child domestic work capacity to help
themselves.
It was found that the most effective interventions are
those which systematically involve child domestic
workers in their planning and implementation.
6. Awareness-raising and advocacy:
i) Developing statistical visibility and knowledge on
child domestic work:
Domestic workers have traditionally suffered from
statistical invisibility, and child domestic workers are
no exception. This has hindered action in this sector.
Improving data collection and statistical tools to better
capture child labour and youth employment in
domestic work, as well as enhancing the knowledge
base, should continue.
These efforts are crucial to informing meaningful
policy, awareness raising and action against child
labour and for decent youth employment at national,
regional and international levels. Research efforts
should concentrate on improving methodologies for
capturing and monitoring the number of child
domestic workers and the trends in their working and
living conditions – including working time, rest periods,
night work and occupational safety and health
considerations (hazardous domestic work). Research
efforts should also be pursued to improve
methodologies to better capturing those subject to
slavery-like situations in domestic work.

ii) Result oriented research methods:
As a cost effective strategy, research efforts on child
domestic work should build upon research efforts on
domestic workers in general. These efforts should also
build on the work of relevant public national
institutions and academia. Furthermore, research
efforts should be pursued by strengthening
cooperation and coordination networks and
partnerships, producing and disseminating practical
tools, and sharing of practical knowledge and
experience among key stakeholders, including
governments, the social partners and civil society
organizations. Knowledge and experience sharing
should take place at national, regional and
international levels, including through SouthSouth/Triangular Cooperation.
iii) Advocacy about child domestic employment:
•
•
•

•

•

A publicity campaign about the exploitation of
child domestic workers, directed at the public.
A programme of sensitisation about certain
aspects of the practice, directed at employers.
A programme of sensitisation directed at
children and their parents who send them into
jobs in town without being aware of the
consequences.
A programme of sensitisation in the main
'sending' provinces in rural areas directed at
community leaders, teachers and health staff.
Discouraging ‘elite capture’ in villages and
border areas of the state.

7. Formalizing the employment relationship in
domestic work
Written contracts are an important way of regulating
the employment of domestic workers and formalizing
their protection.

Efforts to develop model employment contracts for
domestic workers, including young workers in
domestic work, should be encouraged and pursued.
Model contracts should include specific clauses aimed
at protecting young workers in domestic work. Such
clauses should pay special consideration to their
specific protection requirements, including social
protection, as well as to their right to compulsory
education and to participate in further education or
vocational training.
8. Supporting the worldwide movement against child
labour
Civil society organizations play an important role in the
worldwide movement to tackle child labour. Building
the worldwide movement towards eliminating child
labour in domestic work and protecting young workers
above the minimum age in this sector – globally,
nationally and locally – is a priority. These
organizations are at the frontline, hand in hand with
public authorities and the social partners, in reaching
child domestic workers and providing them with
necessary services and protection. Their contribution
is crucial; therefore, their work must be
acknowledged, encouraged and supported.
9. Better together: joining forces to promote decent
work for all
Significant progress has been made in recent years in
understanding and responding to child domestic work.
This would not have been possible without the range
of partnerships that have developed across
geographical and sectoral divides. However, while the
issue is firmly on the international agenda, there
remain major gaps in the numbers of dedicated
practitioners at national, sub-national and sectoral
levels.

Supporting the establishment and strengthening of
domestic workers’ organizations and identifying and
encouraging more organizations to take up the issue
on the ground is critical – not only to reach and assist
more children, but also to promote social dialogue and
support regulatory, policy and advocacy efforts, as
relevant, at national and international levels.
Stronger country-level partnerships between UN
agencies, including ILO, UNICEF, UNHCHR, UNESCO
and UNODC, could help bolster efforts on the issue; as
would support from civil society organizations working
on issues relating to child domestic work such as girls’
education, the commercial sexual exploitation of
children, trafficking in persons, violence against
children, adolescent and sexual health and early
marriage, as well as those working more broadly on
human rights and economic and social development
issues.
Cooperation is fundamental to effective action to
eliminate child labour in domestic work, to protect
young workers from abusive working and employment
conditions and to promote decent work for all
domestic workers. Governments at large, workers and
employers’ organizations, civil society groups, and
international organizations have played a vital role in
giving greater visibility to the issues and problems of
domestic workers. This has resulted in positive
developments in national law and policy, and in
mobilizing support for the ratification and effective
application of the recently adopted Domestic Workers
Convention, (No. 189).
However, we could all do more. Continued concerted
action, in particular, from these stakeholders will be
critical in bringing about decent work for domestic
workers in the coming years.

It is crucial to continue generating political support
and influencing public perceptions and attitudes
towards:
i)

A better understanding of child labour in
domestic work and the need to eliminate
it;
ii) The provision of adequate protection to young
workers in domestic work – when they can
legally work; and
iii) The general recognition of domestic worker’s
rights and dignity and of the economic and
social value of the work they perform.
10. Services for the child workers:
• A programme which would allow child domestics to
meet others in the same situation.
• An educational programme structured to meet the
practicalities of their working lives.
• A vocational training scheme to open up other job
options.
• A drop-in centre, which can also take in runaways
and conciliate between domestics and employers in
conflict.
• A programme for regular health check-ups, including
psychological tests and counselling.
11. Regulatory action:
• The establishment of a voluntary code of practice
about the employment of child domestics.
• A legislative ban on the employment of children
below a certain age as domestic workers.
This list is not exhaustive, but it covers most types of
possible action. Some organisations may choose to do
several activities. What you intend to do has an
important influence on what you want to know.
For example, if you are planning to open a drop-in
centre (with the aim of counteracting negative impacts
on childhood development), it will not be necessary to
know where the child workers come from originally;
you need to concentrate on their current locations so
that the drop-in centre is put in a place accessible to
them. But if you want to sensitise parents to the
problems their working children are likely to face (with
the aim of preventing children going into domestic
work), the places children come from will be very
important.

Conclusion
The biggest challenges to rescue and rehabilitation
efforts are in making them sustainable and ensuring
that the approach provides alternative livelihoods in
the long-term, in order to prevent people from
relapsing into labour- hood or being subject to other
forms of exploitation. The rescue and rehabilitation of
Child Domestic labourers must be monitored by
competent, independent and properly resourced
authorities. There is an urgent need to ensure that
funds set aside by government for the purpose of
rehabilitation get to Child Domestic labourers and
their families quickly upon identification and release,
and that appropriate guidance is given as to their use.
In particular, government must materially support
rescued Child Domestic labourers, such as by providing
them with land and helping them to develop
guilds/self help groups/cooperatives, in order to
enable the rescued Child Domestic labourers to use
their skills (for example as farmers) to sustain
themselves and their families. Furthermore, Child
Domestic labourers should be assisted in organising to
protect themselves and their families.
More research is needed to understand Domestic child
labour better. Sectors where Domestic child labour is
prevalent should be identified and action-oriented
studies undertaken on the extent, nature, mechanisms
and features of domestic child labour, using
participative and ethically sound methodologies and,
in particular, involving children with relevant
experience. Research is also needed in order to
understand the links between domestic child labour
and education, migration and trafficking and the
broader political economy of Domestic Child Labour
and exploitation more generally.

Who is doing what and where on domestic child labour
should be mapped, and legislative and judicial
shortcomings
documented
in
order
that
improvements can be made.
Increased and more coordinated advocacy efforts at
local and international levels are required to generate
the political and social will to overcome the
established social and cultural practices, entrenched
attitudes, exploitative social and labour relationships,
and vested interests that make Domestic Child Labour
a seemingly intractable problem.
Advocacy should focus on strengthening social
movements against bondage and exploitation of
children, and ensuring that appropriate action is taken
in accordance with the law and in the interests of
bonded child labourers and their families. The right of
every child to education should feature prominently in
lobbying efforts. In particular, awareness must be
raised amongst legislators, the judiciary, law
enforcement officials, lawyers, journalists and
government officials to promote understanding of
Domestic Child Labour and to motivate these groups
to act in accordance with their obligations.
Domestic Child Labourers should not merely be the
beneficiaries of the efforts. Although reaching
Domestic Child Labourers in the communities where
they are hidden is a big challenge, their participation
must be at the heart of all of actions, whether these
are advocacy, research, rehabilitation or other efforts.
Bonded child labourers are vulnerable, but at the same
time have experience and strengths that can serve as a
force for generating social support and ultimately in
consigning Domestic Child Labour to history.

Way Forward
It is perceptible that the problem of child labour does
not have any readymade solution, either through legal
instruments or through universal education.
A human rights perspective is necessary for a fuller
understanding of child labour, as it focuses on
discrimination and exclusion as contributing factors.
The United Nations General Assembly Special Session
on Children in 2002 endorsed a mainstreaming

approach– placing child labour on the development
agenda. This implied that a new ambition had to be set
for the worldwide movement against child labour. In
political terms this means putting child labour on the
agenda of finance and planning ministries – after all,
the worldwide movement has to convince
governments to act to end child labour. Child labour
elimination comes down to a set of political choices
rather than a technocratic exercise. And everyday
realities of instability and crisis challenge attempts at
making progress.

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