Child labour involving children who are below the legal working age is a social condition that should not exist in society. However, for various reasons, child labour is still found both internationally and in Myanmar. In implementing efforts to reduce and eliminate child labour, legal rules and regulations must be followed. At the same time, the difficulties faced by child workers in current social conditions must also be taken into consideration.
There are many cases in which school-age children abandon their studies and instead work to help address their families’ immediate financial problems. In some cases, due to negative environmental influences, children who have strayed from the path of education and left the classroom become street children, taking on odd jobs and eventually falling victim to drug abuse.
Therefore, the best approach is to collect and compile data on child labourers with the assistance of local authorities, study and assess their lives, and help guide them toward appropriate life paths. Rather than simply removing child labourers from the workplace, solutions should be sought on how to improve their lives. It is also especially necessary for employers to provide flexibility so that these children can continue working while also having access to education.
For child labourers who are unable to leave the workplace, their life safety should also be carefully considered. It is necessary to protect and safeguard child workers from injuries and abuse that may occur in the workplace for various reasons. It is also important to establish mutually beneficial regulations among local authorities, employers, and child labourers. For those children, wages should be paid at a fair level.
Most child labourers are those who are away from parental care, so their safety and well-being can only be ensured with the support of employers and community elders in providing supervision and care. Children must be protected from various forms of exploitation and enticement, including human trafficking. In appropriate circumstances, these children should be provided with better vocational training opportunities to improve their livelihoods and enhance their lives.
Whether they are studying in school or working to earn an income before reaching adulthood, children are the young sprouts of society. Only by nurturing and supporting them to improve their lives can they achieve a secure and better future and become capable members of society at an appropriate level. Therefore, every citizen should participate in efforts to ensure the safety, security, and improvement of the lives of child labourers.
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