The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A code of conduct for employers (bohaddars) has been prepared to stop forced child labour by protecting the rights of children being engaged in vulnerable work at Dublarchar fisheries area, a coastal island at the Bay of Bengal.

The code of conduct prepared by a Khulna based non-government organisation aiming at ensuring appointment of child labourers, determining their salaries and working hours, providing recreational facilities and other child friendly facilities and protecting their safety and security.

The organisers said a memorandum of understating (MoU) to abide by the code of conduct has already been signed with people concerned, including the employers.

As per the code of conduct, no children under 14 can be taken at Dublarchar to work. Parents should be apprised about the type of work, salary and other facilities to be awarded to the children before taking them for work.

It said a reasonable and timely salary has to be given to children for their work. Children can not be engaged in work more than eight hours. They should be allowed time for rest and meal break.

Meals have to be supplied for the children thrice a day. An specific place with necessary bedding has to be given them for sleeping in the night. They will have to be treated if they fall sick and would be refrained from work, the code of conduct said.

Besides, it said the children should not be given excessive work . They will not be beaten and filthy words can not be used with them. They should be saved from wild animals like crocodile, tiger and snake and possible sex work.

According to the code of conduct, the children should be allowed for playing and recreational activities. Some, they will have to be allowed to meet with their parents.

Sources said a large number of children from Paikgacha in Khulna, Mongla, Rampal and Sharankhola in Bagerhat districts usually go to Dublarchar for work. A section of employees and fishermen forced them to work as slaves.

Prodipan, an NGO based in Khulna, under its Combating Forced Child Labour (CFCL) prepared the code of conduct after consultation with those employers, concerned parents and child labourers to stop forced child labour and ensure their fundamental rights.

Ferdous-ur-Rahman, president of Prodipan said his organisation is working to stop force child labour from Dublarchar.

He said considering the geographical condition, isolation from family and inadequate education health and recreation facilities and unfriendly work atmosphere, the children work at Dublarchar are being repressed and tortured.

Ferdous hope the code of conduct would help to stop forced child labour in fisheries sector at Dublarchar

It may be mentioned that Dublar Char comprising different small islands, including, Alorkol of the Sundarban area, Narkelbarier Char, Shelar Char and Chaprakhalir Char, are being used by the fishermen for catching fishes from October to March.

The children aged between 14 and 18 use to undertake works like cooking, lifting fishes from boats, sorting out fishes and dry them. They have no limit or time table for their work but their food is meagre, payment is poor.

Besides, at least 14 children die every year by the attack of tiger, crocodile, snake and wild pigs.

According to a research carried out by Prabir Biswas, a researcher of CPD, said a total of 67 children had died of attacks by tigers, crocodiles, sharks and wild pigs in five years from 1998 to 2003.