Daniel Kim
Humanities 8
Research Report
5/28/2012

 

      Young, Immature Laborers: Where is the Freedom for Them?

Imagine being forced to work in a factory, while not knowing anyone around you. Some of the world’s citizens do not have jobs due to accessibility issues and lack of requirements and experience. Therefore, they have hard times supporting their families and flourishing in society. This is what happens to children in the middle eastern country, Afghanistan. Children from Afghanistan live harsh lives in the midst of war and droughts. My research is on the slave trade of Afghan citizens in the neighboring country, Pakistan. “Over the past two decades, hundreds of thousands of Afghan families — eager to flee 20 years of war and three years of drought — have sought safe haven in Pakistan, only to spend the rest of their lives working to pay off the debts they accumulated to get there” (Bushell) .This slave trade going on across the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan has continued for several years (Bushell) . This report will unveil why the slave trade first started, how the slave trade takes place, and what the children do for the industries and their owners. The Pakistan slave trade started because of two important reasons, both happening in Afghanistan.

The Pakistan slave trade came into existence as a result of environmental issues, and most importantly, twenty ceaseless years of war. Afghan citizens had to live through endless droughts (Bushell) . There were three consecutive years of this in the country; can you even imagine one year without rain? How would the farmers earn money, if there is no water for their crops? How would everyone live their daily lives working and taking care of families in the unpredictable, harsh climate of Afghanistan? Three years of drought, and to top that up, twenty endless years of war; can you imagine living through all this trouble, and still being able to earn the money to support your family? Keep in mind, the people I am talking about are children of various ages. As a result, many Afghans had no choice but to be involved in the Pakistan slave trade. These unfortunate children had to work in various environments and jobs (Bushell) .

Afghan families and sometimes even children alone passed the border of Afghanistan, to enter the neighboring country, Pakistan. The children were picked up by rich Pakistani men who would hire them as night watchmen, indentured servants, and housemaids, or worked in brick factories. Most of these children were sent to work in carpet factories (“Child Labor in Pakistan”) . These industries needed small and nimble hands to carefully weave the handmade carpets, according to interviews with carpet masters (Bushell) . A large number of the Afghan children working for Pakistani families and industries were sold off to rich men by their very own parents. They were sold off because their parents needed the money to survive, and simply could not feed the child (Bushell) . Can you imagine being sold off to someone you don’t even know a tiny little bit about, and having to do anything they forced you to do? Parents send their children to these men that appear and talk all friendly, but who knows if they are actually cruel beasts underneath? It is not an easy decision to sell your own child, especially to someone that you do not know at all. How guilty would these parents feel if the only solution to their survival was this sad decision?

Children are still working in Pakistan at this moment, employed in carpet factories, brick factories, and as indentured slaves. Imagine working a whole day in the hot, middle-eastern climate for days and days, with not enough sleep or breaks. This is basically suicide for underage children who work these harsh hours to support themselves, and sometimes even for nothing at all, as they were sold off as slaves (“Child Labor in Pakistan”) . “I hire them first and foremost because they’re economical. For what I’d pay one second-class adult weaver I can get three boys, sometimes four, who can produce first-class rugs in no time” (“Child Labor in Pakistan Atlantic”) . This is what a carpet master said during an interview. Children do not deserve to live such a pitiful life; these child slaves are at an age to play with friends of their age and enjoy their young and free lives. Children are hired in these carpet industries by the selfishness of adults. How menacing and evil do you think the impression of the man is to the children, that they’re as obedient as he says in the interview? This slave trade involves young boys and girls into work and businesses meant for adults, and should be stopped because children are children. They do not have the mental and physical capabilities of a full grown man or woman; working full-time as laborers prevents these children from learning properly in schools.

In conclusion, we have to notice these poor children working in these terrible environments. The Afghans passed the border and entered Pakistan in order to find jobs, and children were sold off to rich Pakistanis so they could work for them as indentured slaves, or work in their industry (Bushell) . While we are living in this rich town, with a surplus of resources available for us, we should know that a child is dying while working in a mine, factory, or some place else because of child labor (“Child Labor in Pakistan”) . “Child Labour is a complex problem which demands a range of solutions. There is no better way to prevent child Labour than to make education compulsory” (“Child Labor in Pakistan Atlantic”) . Many people have great suggestions to help stop child labor. “There is no better way to prevent child Labour than to make education compulsory. The West understood this a long time ago. Laws were enacted very early to secure continued education for working children; and now they have gone a step forward, and required completion of at least the preliminary education of the child before he or she starts work” (“Child Labor in Pakistan”) . Why not make schools and education more accessible for everyone (“Child Labor in Pakistan”) ? Child labor is a growing problem in society.  Children from the ages of five to eighteen are suffering as indentured workers or slaves while we live our grand, comfortable lives (“Child Labor in Pakistan Atlantic”) .

Citations:
Bushell, Andrew. “Pakistan’s Slave Trade.” The Phoenix. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 May
2012. <http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/top/features/
   documents/02161800.htm>.

“Child Labor in Pakistan.” The Atlantic. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2012.
<http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1996/02/child-labor-in-pakistan/
   4660/>.

“Child Labor in Pakistan.” Hamariweb. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 May 2012.
<http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=91>