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Stop bonded child labour on World Day Against Child Labour
Press Release
In India, the world’s child labour capital, 15 million children exist as slaves, toiling under the horrific practice of bonded labour. EveryChild, an international children’s charity, is calling for urgent action to crush this illegal system on World Day Against Child Labour.
There are 165 million child labourers across the globe and India holds the largest number of children working in the world. Some of these children are just five years old. Most will enter adulthood illiterate and many crippled by their work.
EveryChild is particularly concerned about the plight of the 15 million bonded child labourers in India. Bonded child labourers have been bought by a ‘master’ or landowner in repayment for a family debt. They are bonded to the master until they repay the loan, but paid so little, they will never really be free; and so the debt passes to the next generation.
Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of EveryChild said, “Today 15 million children exist as slaves in India, bonded by a family debt which they will never be free from. Their lives are a daily ritual of gruelling, repetitive labour. Childhood for some is over by the age of five and for many their education never even got started.”
“Bonded child labour is one of the worst forms of child labour. On World Day Against Child Labour we are urging the Indian government, and all governments in countries where child labour exists, to take this issue seriously. The Indian government needs to enforce its existing laws against this abhorrent practice and ensure all children receive their right to free and compulsory education,” she said.
EveryChild today supports the International Labour Organisation’s World Day Against Child Labour campaign.
For more information, case studies and photography contact Sorcha Clifford 020 7749 3072 sorcha.clifford@everychild.org.uk
Read stories of bonded labour here