Child laborers in bidi factories on the rise

Despite the government ban, the number of child laborers in different risky working sectors across the country is increasing day by day due to lack of proper monitoring and application of the law by the authorities concerned. Of them, highest numbers of child laborers have been working in different Bidi factories posing serious health hazard.

According to the research of a non-government organization, there are around 117 Bidi factories in the country, where around 65,000 enlisted laborers have been working. On the other hand, another research of National Board of Revenue (NBR) revealed that there are around 195 Bidi factories in the country along with 75,000 enlisted workers.

Though, there is dissimilarity between the numbers of Bidi workers according to the two researches, but there is no
dissimilarity between the numbers of child laborers in any research. Every research found that around 50 per cent out of total workers are children aged between 4 and 12.

There is a provision that, no children aged between 4 and 12 will not be allowed to work at any risky work or profession. Despite the directive, Bidi factory owners have been keeping the child laborers recruit in Bidi factories to earn much against paying lower. Consequently, thousands of children are being deprived of education and facing health risk during the peak time of physical growth.

In a survey, it has been learnt that there are around 35 Bidi factories in Haragach in Rangpur district, where around 40,000 workers are involved to produce Bidis. Of the total workers, 20,000 are children, while 12,000 are women and 8,000 are men. Among the child laborers, 15,000 go to school regularly and irregularly, while 5,000 never go to school.

The children are unaware about the health hazards or about their uncertain future for working with the Bidi factories. According to the locals, the boys and girls who work in the Bidi factories cannot complete the primary education and majority of them drop out.

In Lalmonirhat, around 21,000 workers are engaged in nine factories. Of them, 70 percent (14,700) are children. The children are involved to produce hollow Bidi shells and packets, inserting chopped tobacco into the empty shells and closing the shell tops. With the work, each child labor on average earns around Tk 14 every day and Tk 420 per month.

While talking, locals said, if anyone gets engaged with such works, can't come out from it. They involve with tobacco taking or smoking. Due to work in unhygienic environment, they almost face malnutrition problem and fall in different diseases including cancer, asthma and skin infection.

During a recent visit to Kismat Bidi factory at Kandapara in Sirajganj district, this correspondent found that, over 100 children aged between 7 and 12 were working there without using masks on their faces and gloves over hands.

Giving a ridiculous reply of a query, Hazi Altaf Hossain, owner of the factory said, "The child workers have now become habituated to work in such environment. So, they don't have possibility to be affected with any fatal disease for working there. Besides, the job has created opportunity to earn money for the children families. They were given recruitment after managing local administration."

He also threatened to face dire consequences, if any news is published in this regard. Dollar, 12, of Sarai Colony area in Haragach of Rangpur has been working at Aziz Bidi factory for the last seven years. He joined in the work with his father to assist their family. Now he has taken it as a full time job.

Mukta Khatun, 9, of Haragach Sahebpara joined in the same factory with her elder sister to earn for their family, while Rokhsana Khatun, 8, of Kalmatir Mandalpara of Lalmonirhat joined in a Bidi factory with her mother Shewly Begum. None of these child laborers go to school. Experts say government should take stern action against them, who recruit children in such risky works.

Source: Daily asian age, 13 June 2017