The child labor dilemma<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Manpower's director general for guidance and
\nsupervision, Suwarto, said during a seminar in Jakarta last
\nTuesday that about 2.4 million Indonesian children aged between
\n10 and 14 years are forced to work. This, according to the
\ndirector general, is not only a labor problem, but a complicated
\nnational problem which calls for an overall solution.<\/p>\n
The facts show that the number of child workers continues to
\nincrease each year. Studies indicate that most child workers are
\nfound in rural areas, particularly around tea and oil palm
\nplantations. Although their number is biggest in the rural areas,
\nthe risks and demands which child workers have to face are much
\ngreater in the cities. Many urban children work 24 hours a week,
\nfor some it reaches 60 hours.<\/p>\n
Such sad conditions directly contradict Law no.1\/1950 and
\nMinisterial Regulation No.01\/1987, which state that employers are
\nprohibited from making children work for more than four hours a
\nday or at night, and that they must be paid wages in according to
\nexisting regulations. Because the stomach cannot wait, however,
\nand because businesses need cheap labor, the appalling conditions
\nprevail. Child workers are forced to accept conditions that are
\nfar beyond their capacity.<\/p>\n
Perhaps we can all agree that every one of us, from the
\ngovernment down to the community, must show greater concern for
\nour child workers as demands for the respect of human rights
\ngrow, and while we Indonesians strive to raise the quality of
\nhuman resources to improve our competitive standing.<\/p>\n
-- Suara Karya, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-child-labor-dilemma-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }