Child labour: Maids or more?

Picture an average Pakistani female street-child: her face is marred with dirt but she has a pair of eyes that pierce right through your soul. She may not be the ideal child. Her short time on Earth has seen some trying times that compelled her to behave in dubious ways. But she is ideal enough to take care of your toddler — this much is apparent from her eager movements and agility as she balances the baby on the nape of her tiny waist and plays with it like you never could. Yes, put together the image of the two children — both as different as fire and water — and you have a scenario not uncommon in Pakistan: a child taking care of a child.

While the subject may be illegal in most other countries, child labour is rampant across Pakistan, India and other regions of Asia lacking stringent law enforcement. In Pakistan, it is illegal for a child under 14 to be employed in any form, corporate or domestic, but alas, who cares about that? It is hardly breaking news that the barefoot child selling roses around the corner has never seen the inside of a school. Your chai wala may be an adorable little Pashtun boy who must fend for himself at the tender age of 10 but it doesn’t matter so long as the chai comes to you warm. Many like 68-year-old Musharraf Jehan hire young children considering it a favour upon humanity, taking the child off of the streets and providing them with food, shelter and a steady income to boot. “I hired two young girls to help me around the house and they are great,” shares Musharraf. “I have taught them how to cook, clean and sew. These skills will help them in their future!” Indeed what Musharraf has done for the girls is great but what most of us don’t seem to realise is that apart from the steady income, the child needs nurturing and education — not just a corner in your home that they can retreat to after hours of running around the house. According to London-based psychologist Dr SH Mehdi, the cheap labour charges are the main reasons for the prevalence of child labour across the sub-continent. “Of course it is much cheaper for the privileged elite to hire unskilled youngsters as opposed to trained professionals,” explains Mehdi. “Not to mention, children are much easier to control or punish if they misbehave. They are also considered much more reliable in terms of theft and security but of course, that does not always hold true,” he adds. Along with preferring children over adults — especially as nannies or babysitters — there is also clear gender discrimination when it comes to opening one’s home to them. According to Mehdi, girls are favoured over boys as they are thought to be more caring, committed and protective by nature. “They also raise their younger siblings themselves so many of them already have the experience and sense of responsibility.” Unfortunately, what follows puts a damper in our social development. Parents from the low-income brackets fail to send their children, especially daughters, to school and rely on their additional income to run the house. Not to mention, forcing young girls into employment usurps their right to education, having choices and building a better life for themselves. Shahzana Salman, a stay-at-home mother of three, speaks about her previous maid Kulsoom who was hired as a nanny at the age of 10. “It was convenient for me as Kulsoom had no husband or children to worry about and so, wouldn’t ask for too many leaves,” admits Shahzana. “She would feed, bathe and play with my son Mustafa, help me with the dinner, do the laundry, clean the house, etc. Kulsoom stayed with me for five years, until her parents took her back to their village to be married off to someone.”

Oftentimes, girls working in households are subjected to abuse and negligence, something common in many parts of Pakistan. Zareena, an elderly housekeeper shares that her 13-year-old daughter was “tied with a rope and beaten by her employers because they suspected her of theft. In reality, she never stole anything. What is worse is that now she is fearful of working anywhere else and our family income has reduced.” The fear of being scolded or beaten up can amount to further psychological issues for the young nannies. Depending on the type of employer, these young girls often undergo great stress which can affect their physical and mental well-being adversely. According to Mehdi, “Constant stress and exhaustion can give rise to negative energy and bad thoughts. There have been documented cases of the nanny feeling resentful towards her charge for having a more privileged life than her and of young workers growing hateful of their own parents and siblings for forcing them to work.” Another common problem is that the nanny grows too accustomed to the life and style her employers lead due to the large amount of time she spends in their home, away from her own. “In such cases, the subject gets confused. They find it difficult to settle into their own lifestyle, their own reality,” explains Mehdi. “This is particularly alarming cause then these children are tempted toward unlawful means of obtaining things they see their employers using. That can explain a large number of the theft that goes on in Pakistani homes.” And of course, you cannot blame them; they are children! “The fact of the matter is that these children need guidance themselves. How can they possibly guide others?” Questions Rozmeen Khan, a mother of three, vehemently against the idea of nannies, specially such young ones. “It’s your child. You should look after him/her yourself. Don’t depend on a poor little thing to do it for you! Send her to school instead. It will do her more good!” Not only can such circumstances evoke psychological issues in the employed, they may also perpetrate certain reactions in the mind of the toddler being raised by them. Mehdi elaborates on the consequences of relying on domestic help in that “There is a high possibility that the child will develop a comfort level with his/her caretaker that is stronger than what they share with their own parents. Hence, the parental relationship may become secondary in a child’s mind if they are left with the caretaker for too long.” A point to note is that many times the caretakers change as the child grows older; a phenomenon that has been linked to loss of confidence in children and trust issues once they are older. “I strongly believe mental health issues, including personality disorders, can occur in a child’s mind regarding this parent vs nanny type of arrangement,” explains Mehdi. “A child may be going through a level of abuse that the parents do not know about. After all, the nanny herself is a child and can only hold out so much. The level of abuse may only manifest itself once a person is older, when it is too late to amend childhood trauma.” We must remember that the minds of children are like soft clay — easily moulded. As a child grows older, their brain becomes increasingly attentive and curious and they begin adopting the habits and behaviours of those around them. “This is why we are told not to shout or abuse before children,” says 38-year-old mother of two Shehnila Jameel. “I have never understood how some women can just trust a little girl with their babies so easily! In a country where labour is cheaper than fuel, it is no wonder that the privileges enjoyed by the lucky handful are constantly exploited. The custom has developed into a vicious cycle of sorts, pushing thousands of needy children away from a carefree childhood and into low-income, labour-intensive work — children who will, one day, grow up and throw their own children into the mill. The next time you are considering a young child, girl or boy, for domestic help, keep in mind the detrimental effects that your decision may have on both the employed and your children. As suggested by Mehdi, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. If you really wish to help the community, sponsor the child’s education instead. Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, February 23rd, 2014.