CHILD LABOUR IS A HEAVY ISSUE THAT CONTINUES TO GROW AND AFFECTS MORE THAN TEN MILLION CHILDREN EACH DAY. CHILD LABOUR HAS EXISTED FOR MILLENNIA, AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS MORPHED WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND GROWING INDUSTRIES, THE NATURE REMAINS THE SAME.

MALAYSIAN CHILD ACT 2001 (ACT 611) IS ABOUT TO RECOGNIZING THAT A CHILD IS NOT ONLY A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF SUCH A SOCIETY BUT ALSO THE KEY TO ITS SURVIVAL, DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY. THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS (EMPLOYMENT) ACT OF MALAYSIA PROHIBITS THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN THE AGE OF 14.

A SIMPLE WALK AROUND TOWN WILL REVEAL A NUMBER OF BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING USED TO BEG ALONG FIVE FOOT WAYS, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES, BUS STOPS AND SO ON.

NEWS REPORT OBSERVED THAT ABOUT 20 CHILDREN ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR FAMILIES WERE FORAGING FOR JUNK IN THE BUKIT BERUNTUNG LANDFILL (STAR METRO 24/08/10)

ARTICLE 32 FROM THE CONVENTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN TALKS ABOUT THE CHILDS RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED FROM WORK THAT THREATENS HIS OR HER HEALTH, EDUCATION OR DEVELOPMENT. THE ARTICLE STRESSES THAT THE STATE SHALL SET MINIMUM AGES FOR EMPLOYMENT AND REGULATE WORKING CONDITIONS.

Factors on the willingness of the childs own.

The factors of children forced to work.

1. 2. 3.

4.

Poverty Problems Neglect of children Lack of educational opportunities Social status

1.

2.

Ignorant attitudes of illiterate parents Exploitation of children from certain quarters

POOR FAMILY PARENTS INCOME IS LOW ECONOMY AND FINANCIAL PROBLEM FORCED CHILDREN TO WORK HELP FAMILY TO BEAR THE LIVES COST HARDSHIPS HAVE TAUGHT THEM TO HARD WORK

MIGRANTS TO MALAYSIA EG: INDONESIA, PHILIPPINES BRING THEM FAMILY MODERATE INCOME MIGRANTS FORCED THEIR CHILDREN TO WORK CHILD LABOR IS NOT ONLY FROM MALAYSIA CITIZEN CONTRIBUTE ALSO BY MIGRANTS

CHILDREN EXPLOITED FOR A PARTICULARS PURPOSE SOLD AND USED AS A MEDIUM TO EARN MONEY UNSCRUPULOUS THREATS AND WARNING CHILDREN SO THAT CHILDREN WOULD BE WORK EG: BEGGING

IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL

CHILD LABOR IS EXPOSED TO A HAZARDOUS WORK ENVIRONMENT. THUS, ADVERSELY AFFECT THEMSELVES. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR CHILDREN WORKING IN AGRICULTURE AND FARMING. THEY ARE EXPOSED TO HAZARDOUS EQUIPMENT SUCH AS ENGINES, MACHINERY, AND SO ON. ALL OF THE DEVICES IF NOT USED CORRECTLY CAN AFFECT PEOPLE WHO USE IT.

CHILD HEALTH ALSO WILL BE AFFECTED FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WILL SUFFER FROM MANY DISEASES. THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN THEY ARE BUSY WORKING,THEY CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES THUS RESULTING IN THEM SUFFERING LIFE-THEATENING DISEASES SUCH AS COUGH,FLU AND OTHERS BECAUSE THEY WILL HAVING THE ENVIRONMENT OF FACTORY THAT CAUSE MANY EFFECT TO THEIR HEALTH.

IMPACT TO THE COUNTRY

WHEN THE CHILD WAS WORKING, THEY WILL GIVE THE BAD IMPACT TO THE COUNTRY. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WILL CONTAMINATE NAME OF MALAYSIA IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD BECAUSE WHEN IN A COUNTRY HAVING A CHILD AS A WORKER THAT MEANS THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT CONCERN ABOUT THE CHILD RIGHTS. THIS ALSO WILL EFFECT TO THE INVESTMENT OF MALAYSIA BECAUSE WHEN THE INVESTOR COME AND SEE OUR GOVERNMENT LET DOWN THE CHILD TO WORK, THEY WILL LOST THEIR CONFIDENT TO INVEST IN OUR COUNTRY

CHILD LABOR WILL CAUSE OUR COUNTRY LOST THE NEXT GENERATION OR HUMAN CAPITAL THAT WILL DEVELOP OUR COUNTRY IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE WE MUST HAVE THE GOOD QUALITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE OVER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTRY. WHEN THEY ARE WORKING FROM THEIR AGE OF CHILD,THAT MEANS THEY ARE MISS EDUCATION AND THEY NOT HAVE GOOD KNOWLEDGE TO PREVENT OUR COUNTRY FROM TO BE COLONIZED WITH THE BAD INFLUENCE.

ACT IN MALAYSIA

THE CHILDREN ACT 2001 WAS FORMULATED BY COMBINING THE JUVENILE COURTS ACT 1947, WOMEN AND GIRLS PROTECTION ACT 1973 AND THE CHILD PROTECTION ACT 1991. IN MALAYSIA, EFFORTS CONTINUED AS THE CHILD PROTECTION TEAM AND CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY CENTRE WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE STATE AND DISTRICT LEVELS TO PROVIDE SERVICES PRIMARILY TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE IN THE AREA.

PENALTIES AND FINES

THE AUTHORIES SHOULD ALSO TIGHTEN THE LAW SIN PLACE. CHILDREN AGED 16 OR BELOW WILL ALSO BE FINED. THE GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THE FIRM TO REGISTER ITS EMPLOYEES. EMPLOYERS WHO VIOLATE THE CHILD LABOR ACT AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1966 MAY BE CHARGED A PENALTY NOT EXCEEDING 6 MONTHS OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING RM2000.00 OR BOTH

ERADICATION OF POVERTY AND IMPROVE THE EDUCATION

POVERTY ERADICATION TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE MASTERY OF KNOWLEDGE. IN MALAYSIA EVERY CHILD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE AND PURSUE AT LEAST UNTIL THE AGE OF 18 YEARS OR COMPLETING SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL

CAMPAIGN AND THE ROLE OF MEDIA

AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS SHOULD BE HELD. THEIR THE REAL PURPOSE OF IS TO SUPPLEMENT THE FAMILY INCOME. ADVISORY SERVICES, INCLUDING CHILDRELATED ACTIVITIES, COUNSELING FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN, PARENTING COURSES AND CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED. AWARENESS OF CHILD LABOR ISSUES CAN BE DISSEMINATED THROUGH THE MEDIA ABOUT THE ROLE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL PARTIES. THROUGH TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY AND CURRENT INFO SUCH AS SELAMAT PAGI MALAYSIA.

ALL INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY SHOULD WORKING TOGETHER TO COMBAT THE CHILD LABOUR. GOVERNMENT AS THE RULER OF THE STATE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ACCORDING TO THEIR POWER.