Child labor

Child labor

From Media Indonesia

The position of working children and marginal children in Indonesia is in the process of "dehumanization." The Jakarta Social Institute observes that marginal children, who work as hawkers, shoe-shine boys or beggars, are often subject to violent measures taken by security authorities.

In other areas, the Creative Workshop Foundation discovered that working children in a factory were working in a hot, dirty and noisy room, taking care of an area which calls for close attention.

These issues were discussed in a workshop on child labor and marginal children held in Bogor, West Java, on Sept. 12 to Sept. 14, 1995, in which NGO activists exchanged information and experiences.

The issue of child labor and marginal children is complex. The problems range from family matters, environment, authorities and even law matters. The complexity also includes intervention of the government by providing education for working children and marginal children. This eventually leads to failure on the part of NGO activists in their efforts to sort out child labor problems.

It seems that the "dehumanization" process is systematically carried out, so that there is no room for NGO activists to improve conditions for working children and marginal children.

Under these circumstances the workshop participants agreed to take the following actions:

* To urge the government to immediately form a Commission of National Children's Rights.

* To think of an alternative form of education for working children and marginal children, and advise the government about "important education."

INSTITUT SOSIAL JAKARTA

Jakarta