Children working right according to the law

Writer: Najia Nejat

Khalida and her brother, Ilham are the guests of Lalo Mama. They are waiting in the yard of the castle for Lalo Mama. Lalo Mama arrives and they greet him. Khalida seems sad. Lalo Mama asks the reason. Ilham says that when they were coming to the castle, they saw some children were busy in making bricks and among them a girl too who is Khalida’s friend. Khalida says that one of them was carrying a load of bricks on his back, suddenly, he fell on the ground. The employer punished him instead of helping.

Lalo Mama says that the employer might not be aware of the labor law and then Lalo Mama takes them to the corridor of the castle and there he opens a window for their information.

Window:

In the window, the reporter of the castle is talking to some youths about labor law.

A girl, Parwana says that the children under 18 should only study their schools and his/her family should avoid him/her hardworking because his/her mind is not enough mature yet.

Another girl, Shabana says that she has heard about labor law but she doesn’t know anything about it.

Lalo Mama closes the window. Iham says that he did not get anything about labor law from the window.

Lalo Mama opens another window for their more information.

Window:

In the window, Nabi is working in a workshop and the employer always forces him to do hard work. Nabi shares the issue with his friend, Atal. Atal takes him to Hakim Baba’s house. After greeting, Atal says to Hakim Baba that he heard from a radio that according to the labor law, no one is allowed to force children for hardworking. 

Hakim Baba says that  workers between 14-18 years old are called teen workers.

The 49th article of Afghanistan’s labor law states that children should not be recruited forcefully.

According to the labor law children can only recruited on jobs that meet their abilities otherwise it would be counted as crime.

Nabi asks more about child work. Hakim Baba says that the Human Rights Declaration prohibits work for children”.

Nabi asks Hakim Baba if could ask his employer about not to force him for hardworking.

Hakim Baba says that he could tell to his father or brother to talk to his employer otherwise he (Hakim Baba) would go with you to inform his employer from the labor law.

Atal and Nabi thank Hakim Baba. Nabi says that he could go to school and also, he would continue his work with the workshop too.

Lalo Mama closes this window.