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
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