In India, child labor practices are very widespread. The situation of women has always been very bad with regard to workplace harassments, wages paid and domestic violence.
Unfair labor practices are prevailing in India . Child labor is prohibited by the law but unfortunately the law fails to prohibit child labor instead it tries to regulate the hours and conditions of work for child laborers. Law states that no child below 14 years of age shall be employed in any factory or mine or engaged in any hazardous employment (Article 24 of the Indian Constitution). The reasons for child labor are poverty, illiteracy, social and economic circumstances and the growing rate of adult unemployment. Child labor is a primary issue in Asia and Africa . India has the largest number of child laborers in the world. (ILO, 1992). The conditions prevalent in the various sectors in which the children are employed is examined. The employers treat the children very harshly. They beat up the children severely if they ask for wages or try to escape. Children work for twelve or more hours per day and seven days a week. Tamil Nadu has the largest number of child laborers in the world.
Women have to face at home forces them to work for meager wages and without social security. However, the working conditions of women in this sector are improving. Women face a lot of sexual harassment in the course of employment. Due to their inability to work for long hours they are not employed in sensitive or crucial positions. Women in gold mines handle mercury and cyanide with their bare hands. Woman has to work beyond working hours, even in advanced stages of pregnancy, and there is no leave facility. In some quarries in Orissa, women have to work at night and are sexually abused. HIV AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases, respiratory problems, silicosis, tuberculosis, leukemia, arthritis and reproductive problems are more prevalent among women working in mines.
