Child labor refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labor.

This practice is
considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries.

History

During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as four were employed in production factories with
dangerous, and often fatal, working conditions.

The Victorian era became notorious for employing young children in factories and mines and as chimney
sweeps.[6] Child labor played an important role in theIndustrial Revolution from its outset, often brought
about by economic hardship, Charles Dickens for example worked at the age of 12 in a blacking factory,
with his family in debtor's prison.

In coal mines, children began work at the age of five and generally died before the age of 25.

Laws pertaining to Child Labour:

• Children [Pledging of Labour] Act (1933)

• Employment of Children Act (1938)
• The Bombay Shop and Establishments Act (1948)
• Child Labour -Prohibition and Regulation Act
• The Indian Factories Act (1948)
• Plantations Labour Act (1951)
• The Mines Act (1952)
• Merchant Shipping Act (1958)
• The Apprentice Act (1961)
• The Motor Transport Workers Act (1961)
• The Atomic Energy Act (1962)
• Bidi and Cigar Workers (Condition of Employment) Act (1966)
• State Shops and Establishments Act

Speech- intro

The most innocent phase in human life is the childhood. It is that stage of life when the human
foundations are laid for a successful adult life. It is the phase when we are carefree, fun-loving, learning,
playing… Go back into your childhood and for most of us, there are beautiful memories. And how
wonderful to have grown up with such carefree abandonment while we had parents, grandparents and
others looking after us. But, this is the story of not too many children.
India accounts for the second highest number where child labour in the world is concerned. Africa
accounts for the highest number of children employed and exploited. The fact is that across the length
and breadth of the nation, children are in a pathetic condition.