Although child labour has been banned, finding children working is commonplace. There are thousands of such workers who are being exploited, and lead a life of hardships when they should be going to school so that they could have a better future.

Many children work as domestic help. Those concerned are well aware that such abuse of children is illegal, but, although child labour has been disallowed, the practice continues abated. Since many of the child labourers are engaged in such work through the consent of their parents and guardians, they should be made aware of the malpractice and the harm they are doing to their children by making them work as child labourers. Most of the children thus exploited belong to indigenous nationalities from outside the Kathmandu Valley. According to reports there are over 3,000 child workers working in brick kilns in the valley.

These children deserve a better deal, and the majority of them have never had formal education.

Thus, efforts should be made to bring child labour to a halt by generating awareness and taking necessary legal action.

Published on: 13 June 2011 | The Himalayan Times