Child labor is one of the saddest realities in Pakistan. Even though Pakistan has signed international child protection laws like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions but the situation on the ground has not changed much. According to UNICEF and ILO estimates, more than 3.3 million children in Pakistan are working in different forms of labor. When we see such huge numbers, it is clear that the implementation of these international laws is failing. Many people often ask: if the laws exist, then why do we still see children working in workshops, hotels, factories, on the streets, and even in homes? The answer is not simple, but it is important to understand.

The first and biggest reason is poverty. Pakistan is a developing country where millions of families struggle to meet basic needs like food, rent, and health care. When parents cannot earn enough, they see no choice but to send their children to work. For these families, a child earning a small amount maybe just a few hundred rupees a day can mean survival. International laws do not change the economic pressure these families face. It is hard to tell a poor parent to follow the law when they cannot afford two meals a day. So even if Pakistan promises to follow international child labor standards, poverty makes it impossible for many parents to keep their children in school and away from work.

Another major issue is weak law enforcement. Pakistan does have child labor laws, like the Employment of Children Act 1991 and provincial laws in Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Baluchistan. These laws say that a child under a certain age cannot work in hazardous jobs. On paper, these laws appear strong. But in reality, labor inspectors are too few, and they do not visit workplaces regularly. Many small workshops, brick kilns, and home-based workplaces where children are employed are not registered, which makes it easy to hide violations. Sometimes, even when inspectors come, factory owners bribe them or simply hide the children. Without strict action, the laws stay on paper and child labor continues as usual.

Another reason the international laws fail is that education is not strong enough. International child labor laws are based on the idea that children should be in school. But Pakistan’s education system is weak. Millions of children are out of school. In many rural areas, schools are far away, teachers are absent, or the quality of education is so poor that parents do not see any benefit in sending their children. When school does not feel useful, work feels like the only option. International agreements cannot work in a place where education is not accessible or attractive for poor families. There is also a cultural and social mindset that contributes to this failure. In many communities, it is considered normal for children to help with work. Some families believe that learning skills at a young age is better than going to school. Others think that working makes a child “responsible.” This mindset clashes with international laws that say children should not work and should focus on education. When society itself does not see child labor as a serious crime, the laws no matter how strong cannot be fully implemented. Corruption also plays a role. Some employers use child workers because they are cheaper and easier to control. They know that even if they are caught, they may escape punishment by paying a small bribe. This culture of corruption at the local level weakens the impact of both national and international laws. Employers continue using children because they know they will most likely not face any real consequences. Lack of awareness is another problem. Many people, especially in rural areas, do not even know about international child labor laws or their own local laws. Parents, employers, and even some government officials are not aware of what the law says about the age of work, the type of work children can or cannot do, and the rights children have. Without awareness, implementation becomes impossible. International agreements cannot help when people on the ground do not know what those agreements require.

The government also faces limited resources. To properly implement international child labor laws, Pakistan needs more labor inspectors, more social workers, better schooling facilities, stronger monitoring systems, and financial support for poor families. But the government does not have enough resources to do all this at a large scale. International bodies may set standards, but the real work has to be done by the country itself, and Pakistan struggles with funding and capacity.

In the end, the failure to implement international child labor laws in Pakistan is not because the government does not care. It is because the problem is deeply connected with poverty, weak institutions, corruption, poor education, and social attitudes. International laws can guide, but they cannot solve these internal problems on their own. If Pakistan truly wants to reduce child labor, it must fight poverty, improve schools, strictly punish violators, and raise awareness among families. Until these deeper issues are fixed, international laws will continue to exist only on paper, while millions of children continue to work instead of enjoying the childhood they deserve.

Rubah Zainab.graduated from Bahria University Islamabad, majoring in International Relations.