RI's poor record on child labor deplored<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The International Labor Organization (ILO)
\nlamented the scant attention being paid by both officials and
\nactivists of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the
\nextensive problem of domestic child labor in the country.<\/p>\n
Pandji Putranto, the national program coordinator for the
\nInternational Program on the Elimination of Child Labor,
\nexplained yesterday that one of the reasons for the poor
\nattention was the nature of the problem itself.<\/p>\n
He told The Jakarta Post that it is difficult to identify
\nchild domestic workers because domestic service is \"hidden work\"
\ndespite its rampant practice, especially in the case of girls.<\/p>\n
The hidden nature of the service has made many NGOs reluctant
\nto deal with the issue, preferring to deal with the more visible
\nproblem of street children.<\/p>\n
\"So far, there is no data to support our activities in dealing
\nwith child domestic workers,\" Pandji said, adding that a recent
\nILO report on child domestic workers represented an initial step
\nfor the body's campaign against the problem.<\/p>\n
The ILO report, titled Child Labour: Targeting the Intolerable
\nand released on Tuesday, contained the finding of a recent study
\nthat there were an estimated 400,000 child domestic workers in
\nGreater Jakarta. The study also said there were up to five
\nmillion child domestic workers in the country.<\/p>\n
The report stated that child domestic service is a widespread
\npractice in many developing countries, with employers in cities
\noften recruiting children from rural villages through family,
\nfriends and contacts.<\/p>\n
Violence and sexual abuse are among the serious and
\nfrightening hazards facing children at work, especially those in
\ndomestic service, it said.<\/p>\n
The report revealed that the majority of domestic workers tend
\nto be between 12 and 17 years old.<\/p>\n
The report also disclosed gender-related differences, where
\ngirls often work in domestic labor while most boys work in
\nconstruction, agriculture and manufacturing.<\/p>\n
\"Girls, because of their employment in households, work longer
\nhours than boys. This is one of the main reasons girls receive
\nless schooling than boys,\" the report said.<\/p>\n
In addition, girls are more vulnerable than boys to sexual
\nabuse and its consequences, such as social rejection,
\npsychological trauma and unwanted motherhood, it said.<\/p>\n
Suyono Yahya, third assistant to the coordinating minister for
\npeople's welfare, rejected the suggestion that the government has
\npaid little attention to the problem. (ste)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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