大象传媒

Good Morning
Today is World Day Against Child Labour. Organised by the United Nations, the day aims to draw attention to the almost a quarter of a BILLION children who labour worldwide.

The UN says of them that, 鈥淢ore than half of them are exposed to the worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict.鈥�

These children do not go to school and have little or no time to play. They are denied the opportunity to truly experience childhood as a child, burdened as they are with the profound responsibility of work, and often far worse situations.

Once upon a time, Britain had child labour, but we introduced labour laws. Given this, it鈥檚 easy to feel that this situation is not our problem, or that we can do anything about it.
Yet there is a link between us and many of the children who labour across the world. We can end up buying products that children are forced to make. Sadly, the agile and small fingers of children are often used for products which are embroidered, or stitching on footballs and trainers, as well as for picking raw materials for cotton and chocolate.
Our demands for cheap things can lead to intolerable working conditions for children, as well as adults. To me, this can鈥檛 be right. No fellow human 鈥� young or old - should be paying the price for our desire for cheap goods.

O Merciful Lord 鈥� grant us the means and the will to protect the world鈥檚 children, and help us create governments and societies where we care for the weakest of us, rather than just lauding the powerful and strong.