RI's poor record on child labor deplored
RI's poor record on child labor deplored
JAKARTA (JP): The International Labor Organization (ILO)
lamented the scant attention being paid by both officials and
activists of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the
extensive problem of domestic child labor in the country.
Pandji Putranto, the national program coordinator for the
International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor,
explained yesterday that one of the reasons for the poor
attention was the nature of the problem itself.
He told The Jakarta Post that it is difficult to identify
child domestic workers because domestic service is "hidden work"
despite its rampant practice, especially in the case of girls.
The hidden nature of the service has made many NGOs reluctant
to deal with the issue, preferring to deal with the more visible
problem of street children.
"So far, there is no data to support our activities in dealing
with child domestic workers," Pandji said, adding that a recent
ILO report on child domestic workers represented an initial step
for the body's campaign against the problem.
The ILO report, titled Child Labour: Targeting the Intolerable
and released on Tuesday, contained the finding of a recent study
that there were an estimated 400,000 child domestic workers in
Greater Jakarta. The study also said there were up to five
million child domestic workers in the country.
The report stated that child domestic service is a widespread
practice in many developing countries, with employers in cities
often recruiting children from rural villages through family,
friends and contacts.
Violence and sexual abuse are among the serious and
frightening hazards facing children at work, especially those in
domestic service, it said.
The report revealed that the majority of domestic workers tend
to be between 12 and 17 years old.
The report also disclosed gender-related differences, where
girls often work in domestic labor while most boys work in
construction, agriculture and manufacturing.
"Girls, because of their employment in households, work longer
hours than boys. This is one of the main reasons girls receive
less schooling than boys," the report said.
In addition, girls are more vulnerable than boys to sexual
abuse and its consequences, such as social rejection,
psychological trauma and unwanted motherhood, it said.
Suyono Yahya, third assistant to the coordinating minister for
people's welfare, rejected the suggestion that the government has
paid little attention to the problem. (ste)