End Child Labor through Education and Awareness in

End Child Labour through Education and Awareness

During this reporting period, Good Thinkers Organization (GTO-Pakistan) conducted two awareness sessions in Kasur to strengthen community understanding of child labour, workers’ rights, and the legal remedies available in cases of labour-law violations. The sessions brought together 67 participants, including representatives of civil society organizations, labourers, community members, and other key stakeholders.

Participants were introduced to Article 11(3) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 in factories, mines, and other hazardous occupations. They were also informed about Article 25-A, which recognizes the right of every child between the ages of 5 and 16 to free and compulsory education.

The sessions also discussed the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act 2016, which prohibits the employment of children in establishments and restricts adolescents from hazardous occupations and processes. As Kasur has a significant brick-kiln workforce, participants were also briefed on the Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Act 2016, which specifically protects children from employment and exploitation at brick kilns. The Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Act 2014 was highlighted as an important legal foundation for ensuring that children remain in school instead of entering labour.

GTO-Pakistan’s team explained how labour-law violations may be documented and reported to the Labour and Human Resource Department, labour inspectors, police, and relevant child-protection authorities. Participants were encouraged to recognize vulnerable children, support their school enrolment, and report cases involving hazardous work, forced labour, exploitation, or denial of education.

The sessions enhanced participants’ understanding of the relationship between poverty, lack of education, and child labour. They also strengthened community awareness that ending child labour requires both enforcement of the law and sustained efforts to keep children in school.

With continued donor support, GTO-Pakistan aims to expand these awareness activities, engage employers and communities, and help more vulnerable children replace labour with education, safety, and hope.