As per data reported in the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), in 2020, there were 228 cases of child labour out of the total number of 8,165 of all forms of reported child abuse cases. According to the last report, there was a declining trend in child labour compared to the previous two reports released in 2008/2009 and 1999. Government responseLast week, the Department of Labour said that child domestic labour will be categorised as dangerous jobs. “According to the 2016 report, 103,704 children have been mentioned as working children. —Year Number of children Population of working children Children engaged in work but not child labour Children in child labour but not hazardous Children engaged in hazardous forms of child labour 1999 3,418,733 926,037 NA NA NA 2008/09 3,781,111 557,599 450,340 43,343 63,916 2016 4,467,738 103,704 59,990 4,707 39,007Table: Findings of the last three eight-yearly report released by the DCS

Source: The Nation July 31, 2021 18:56 UTC