All about India

It is estimated that 1/3 of India’s population is made up of children below the age of 14, with 14 of the 28 million children between the ages of 6-14 engaging in child labour.India is sadly the home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. Since 2001, the number of child labourers has increased significantly from 11.28 million to 14 million today (Child Line India Foundation, N.A.).

When industrial revolution hit in the 18th to 19th century, there was a need for a large number of workers for mass factory production as opposed to home production. Children become the top choice for this purpose due to the large number available. Currently, due to the growing population that results in an increased cost of production, child labourers are often exploited as they are not registered as official workers and hence are usually not paid. Despite the ban on child labour, this situation is still present (Child Line India Foundation, N.A.).

While child labour is common in India, not all children are forced to work. Due to poverty, children have to find jobs to earn an income to help support the family. According to certain studies, income from child labour can make up to 25-40% of the total family income, deeming child labour as a necessity to some instead of an exploitation (Child Line India Foundation, N.A.). To see how poverty in India results in child labour, click here.

A growing phenomenon is using children as domestic workers in urban areas. As children are the cheapest form of labour, in particular girls, many girls from rural areas are abducted and kidnapped to be trafficked. To see more about gender discrimination in India, click here. The conditions in which children work are completely unregulated and they are often made to work without food, resembling situations of slavery. There are cases of physical, sexual and emotional abuse of child domestic workers. The argument for domestic work is often that families have placed their children in these homes for care and employment. There has been a recent notification by the Ministry of Labour making child domestic work as well as employment of children in dhabas, tea stalls and restaurants "hazardous" occupations (Child Line India Foundation, N.A.).

Up to 2012, the Child Labour Act of 1983 allows children below the age of 14 to work in non-hazardous locations. However, this contradicts with the Education policy that requires all children between the ages of 6-14 to attend school.