Physical & Psychological Hazards Faced by Child Labour – A Review Article

Abstract

Child labour is a worldwide phenomenon but more focus is required on developing countries. The policy framework of International Labour Organization (ILO) to eliminate child labour is based on United Nations (UN) Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at work (1998). Over 170 million children worldwide still work in order to sustain their basic needs. About 22000 working children die due to occupational hazards every year, as per ILO estimates. Indian population has more than 17.5 million working children in different industries (Child Labour in India 1994; Tiwari 2005), and maximum are in agricultural sector, leather industry, mining and match making industries etc. As per provisions in the Constitution of India, “the State shall direct its policy towards protection of childhood and youth against exploitation and they shall not be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any hazardous employment”; but unfortunately India has the largest number of urban and rural child workers in the world (Fyfe, 1994)) India being a developing nation is faced with traditional public health problems like communicable diseases, malnutrition, poor environmental sanitation and inadequate medical care. However, globalization and rapid industrial growth in the last few years has resulted in emergence of occupational health related issues. The major occupational diseases/morbidity of concern in India are silicosis, musculo-skeletal injuries, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, chronic obstructive lung diseases, asbestosis, by sinuses, pesticide poisoning and noise induced hearing loss. There are many agencies like National Institute of Occupational Health, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Central Labour Institute, etc. are working on researchable issues like Asbestos and asbestos related diseases, Pesticide poisoning, Silica related diseases other than silicosis and Musculoskeletal disorders. Still much more is to be done for improving the occupational health research. The measures such as creation of advanced research facilities, human resources development, creation of environmental and occupational health cells and development of database and information system should be taken.