Dječji rad i dalje postoji, ne samo kao jedan od najvažnijih problema što se tiče radnih odnosa, nego i kao jedna od najvećih sramota za čovječanstvo. Dječji rad, koji se definira kao svaki posao koji dijete sprječava u iskorištavanju svog djetinjstva na najbolji način, umanjuje njegov potencijal i dostojanstvo, i koji je štetan za njihov fizički i psihički razvoj, iskorištava se kao jeftin i fleksibilan oblik rada.

Međunarodna organizacija rada (ILO) proglasila je 12. lipnja Svjetskim danom borbe protiv dječjeg rada. To je učinila 2002. godine s ciljem podizanja svijesti o jednom od najstrašnijih problema koji se tiču djece. U izvješću pod nazivom „Dječji rad: 2020 Globalne procjene 2020, Trendovi i put prema naprijed“ koje je pripremila ILO, primijećeno je da je u 2020. godini dječji rad u porastu. Prema izvješću, broj djece koja rade u cijelom svijetu porastao je za 8.4 milijuna. Trenutno preko 160 milijuna djece radi, a 79 milijuna njih zaposleno je na teškim i opasnim poslovima. Uzimajući u obzir stope dječjeg rada prema spolu, dječaci u svim dobnim skupinama rade više nego djevojčice. Od 2019. godine broj djece koja radi počeo se povećavati zbog pandemije. Djeca nisu mogla ići u školu, obitelji nisu imale novaca za osnovne potrebe zbog toga što je inflacija utjecala na sve, ljudi su ostajali bez posla.

Djecu se iskorištava za poslove koji su teški čak i za odrasle koji na takav posao mogu pristati i znaju u što se upuštaju, i koji mogu zaštititi svoja prava i biti plaćeni u skladu s odrađenim. Barem u zemljama u kojima postoje zakoni koji štite radnike. Međutim, čak i u razvijenim zemljama djeca rade ilegalno i plaćena su na crno. Ukoliko takvi slučajevi ne isplivaju na površinu, djeca su i dalje izložena i nisu zaštićena zakonom. U nerazvijenim zemljama situacija je još gora zbog toga što djeca rade u opasnoj industriji. Obitelji koje imaju više djece obično profitiraju od toga da svoju djecu pošalju raditi. Ručno tkanje, tekstilna industrija, rudarska industrija, teška industrija i poljoprivreda – sve su to primjeri industrija u kojima se djecu tjera na rad.

U jednom od najsiromašnijih dijelova Indije, jedini od mogućih poslova jest rudarenje u rudnicima tinjca. Rudnici tinjca vrlo su mali i nema puno prostora u njima, tako da samo djeca mogu raditi u njima. Tinjac se može pronaći u kozmetici ili u elektronici i koristi se diljem svijeta. Ta djeca ne mogu ići u školu i samim time ne mogu se zaposliti ni na kakvim boljim poslovima u budućnosti. Rade za manje od 70 centa na dan. U gotovo svim slučajevima djeca su potplaćena jer se ona ne mogu ujediniti i štititi svoja prava. Zarobljena su u beskrajnom krugu jer ako ih roditelji ne pošalju u rudnik, ne postoje ni nikakve druge poslovne prilike u tim regijama. Prema tome obitelj mora ili imati djecu, ili umrijeti od gladi. Odbijanje korištenja tinjca također nije rješenje bez osiguravanja novih održivih radnih mjesta, što je ujedno i razlog tomu što dječji rad ne prestaje.

Za djecu koja su pripadnici manjina i skupina u nepovoljnom položaju postoji veća šansa da će raditi dok su još maloljetni. Romska djeca jedna su od najugroženijih jer su najniže obrazovana u usporedbi sa svojim europskim vršnjacima, što značajno umanjuje njihovu šansu za stjecanje poslova na neodređeno u budućnosti. Romsku djecu njihove obitelji često tjeraju da prose na ulici, a djeca bi ustvari za to vrijeme trebala biti u školi, igrati se ili družiti s prijateljima. Prosjačenje je ozbiljan problem u romskim zajednicama. U nekim slučajevima roditelji čak tuku svoju djecu kako bi ljudi suosjećali s njima i dali im više novaca. Međutim, to ipak nije vrlo često. U zemljama Europske unije prosjačenje nije zločin i postoje rasprave o tome spada li prosjačenje u izrabljivanje djece. Međutim, ono što je sigurno je da djeca te dobi moraju ići u školu, družiti se sa svojim prijateljima i proživljavati svaki trenutak svog djetinjstva, umjesto da prose i brinu za obiteljski prihod.

Ahmet Yildiz bio je trinaestogodišnji dječak kurdskog podrijetla, čija se obitelj preselila s istoka Turske u Adanau. Ilegalno je radio u tvornici plastike u vrijeme kada je trebao biti u školi. Zaglavio je u mašini za prešanje koja nije imala uključen siguran način rada. Siguran način rada bio je isključen kako bi on morao brže raditi. Umro je u bolnici od posljedica ozljeda. Njegov šef osuđen je na zatvorsku kaznu, ali je ona pretvorena u novčanu kaznu u iznosu od 10000 eura na 24 rate. Nikad neću zaboraviti Ahmetovo lice, sve otkad sam ga vidjela u novinama. Bili smo otprilike istih godina. Njegov je šef vjerojatno i dalje nastavio zapošljavati djecu da rade jer nije dobio nikakvu kaznu koja bi ga od toga spriječila. Možda ćemo jednog dana živjeti u svijetu u kojem nijedno dijete neće biti spriječeno od pohađanja škole. Nijedno dijete ne treba raditi i zarađivati novce. Ne smije propuštati svoje djetinjstvo i ponašati se kao odrasla osoba i prije nego što to postane. Nakon svih ovih godina, i dalje se prisjećam Ahmeta sa suzama u očima. Ovo je za svu djecu čije priče nismo mogli čuti, koja su izgubila svoje djetinjstvo na bilo koji način.

 

 

 

Child labour continues to exist not only as one of the most important problems in working life, but also as a source of great embarrassment for humanity. Child labor, which is defined as working in jobs that prevent children from living their childhood, diminish their potential and dignity, and which is harmful to their physical and mental development, is used as a cheap and flexible form of labor.

International Labour Organization (ILO) declared 12th of June as the World Day against Child Labour in 2002, to raise awareness for one of the direst problems in the world regarding children. In the report "Child Labour: 2020 Global Estimates 2020, Trends And The Road Forward" prepared by the ILO, it is observed that child labor has increased in 2020. According to the report, the number of child workers worldwide has increased 8.4 million, currently there are more than160 million child workers, and 79 million of them are employed in heavy and dangerous jobs. Considering the rates of child labor divided by gender; boy workers work more than girls in all age groups. Since 2019, the child labour numbers started to increase due to pandemic. Children could not attend school, families cannot afford basic needs when inflation is effecting everyone, people being laid off from their works.

Children are being used in labour for jobs that are even difficult for adults that can consent and knows what they are getting themselves into, who can protect themselves and who can be paid accordingly. At least in countries where there are laws that benefits the workers. Though, even in developed countries, child workers, are working illegally and being paid under the table, so unless it comes to the surface, children are still more prone to harm and they are not protected by the laws. In underdeveloped countries it is even worse because children working in dangerous industries and usually families that have many children can benefit from putting their children in the work force. Hand women carpets, textile industry, mining industry, heavy industry factories and agriculture are just examples where children are being forced to work.

In India’s one of the most poor areas, mica mining is one of the only jobs possible, where only children can work due to mica mines being underground, small and not much room to operate. Mica can be found in cosmetics and electronics and used globally. These children cannot go to school and therefore cannot get better jobs in the future and they are working for less than 70 cents a day. In almost any case, child workers are severely under paid for they lack the chance to unionise or protect their rights. They are stuck in an endless cycle because if families do not send their children to the mines, there are no other work opportunities in those regions. So either a family has to have children and send them to the mines or they should die from starvation. Refusing to use mica would not be a solution without providing families with sustainable new job opportunities, which is one of the reasons why child labour is continuing.

Children in minorities and disadvantaged groups are more likely to work when they are underaged. Roma children are one of the most effected group, they have the lowest educational levels compared to their peers in Europe, which significantly diminishes their chances of getting regular, full time jobs in the future. Roma children in a lot of times are forced by their families to beg for money when they should be going to school, playing games and making friends. Begging is a serious issue in the Roma community. In some cases, families might cause physical damage to children so that the people will sympathise with the children and give more money. That is not very common though. In European Union countries, begging is not a crime and there is a discussion whether children begging is child exploitation. However, it is for sure that children at that age should go to school, socialise with their friends and live their childhood, instead of begging and worrying about their family income.

Ahmet Yildiz was a 13 year old Kurdish child whose family moved from east of Turkey to Adana. He was working in a factory of plastic, illegally, when he was supposed to be at school. He got stuck in a press machine that did not have the safety on, the safety was turned off so he can work faster. He died later in the hospital. His boss was found guilty and his prison sentence was converted to a fine, he had to pay 10.000 euros in 24 instalments. I have never forgotten Ahmet’s face since I saw him in the newspapers, we were around the same age. His boss probably continued to employ child workers for he did not even receive a sentence that would deter him from doing so in the future. Maybe one day, we will live in a world where there are no children who cannot attend to school. No children has to work and make money, who cannot live their childhood because they have to act like adult before they are an adult. After all these years, I still recollect Ahmet with tears in my eyes. To all children like Ahmet whose stories we did not get to hear, who lost their childhood one way or another…