Child Labour Revisited: Gender, Culture, Economics and Human Rights

The book addresses the case of child labour by moving beyond the usual concern that regards the phenomenon essentially as an 'evil', harmful and corrupt, and instead attempts to assess children's work in the relevant socio-economic and cultural context. It examines the specificities of girl child labour in the garment industry and underlines how tradition, culture, religion and sexual division of labour determine the parameters within which they live, work and resist patriarchal control and differential treatment at home and in the workplace. The book discusses laws and policies on working children at the national level. It also describes relevant international conventions and standards and cautions against economic approaches that are often relied on in an attempt to eliminate child labour. It argues that since the notion of childhood is variable across cultures and societies, the interpretation of the principle of 'best interests' of the child also tend to differ; consequently, reconciling protective legislation against child labour with the existing socio-economic and cultural scenario often becomes difficult. The book recommends that a combination of laws and policies that are inclusive of basic services of health, education and economic incentives would be ideal for addressing child labour. It maintains that concerted efforts by the government, private sector, media, civil society, and NGOs can indeed culminate in a powerful national movement against economic exploitation of children. Although written from an academic perspective, the book will benefit law and policymakers, relevant UN agencies, development workers, and child rights organizations.