Ngesithukuthuku Sezingane

“Izingane, manje eseziyingxenye yezimboni, ziphathwa njengempahla yezomnotho kunokuba zibhekwe njengekusasa lomphakathi.”—UChira Hongladarom, umqondisi we-Human Resources Institute, eThailand.

NGOKUZAYO lapho uthengela indodakazi yakho udoli, khumbula ukuthi kungenzeka wenziwa yizingane ezincane eNingizimu-mpumalanga ye-Asia. Ngokuzayo lapho indodana yakho ikhahlela ibhola, cabanga ngeqiniso lokuthi kungenzeka lathungwa intombazane eneminyaka emithathu ubudala, ehola u-R4,50 ngosuku yona nonina nodadewabo abane. Ngokuzayo lapho uthenga ukhaphethi, cabanga ngokuthi kungenzeka walukwa iminwe ekhuthele yabafana abaneminyaka eyisithupha ubudala abasebenza isikhathi eside usuku nosuku ngaphansi kwezimo ezimbi.

Idlange kangakanani le nkinga yokugqilazwa kwezingane? Izithinta kanjani izingane? Yini engenziwa ukuze kulungiswe lesi simo?

Ubukhulu Bale Nkinga

Ngokwe-International Labor Organization (ILO), inani lezingane ezisebenzayo ezineminyaka ephakathi kwemihlanu nengu-14 ubudala emazweni asathuthuka libalelwa ezigidini ezingu-250.a Kucatshangwa ukuthi ezingamaphesenti angu-61 zise-Asia, ezingamaphesenti angu-32 zise-Afrika kanti ezingamaphesenti angu-7 ziseLatin America. Le nkinga yezingane eziyizisebenzi ikhona nasemazweni anezimboni.

Izingane eziningi eningizimu yeYurophu zisebenzela imali, ikakhulukazi emisebenzini eyenziwa ngezikhathi ezithile, njengokulima nemisebenzi emincane. Muva nje, inani lezingane eziyizisebenzi liye landa eYurophu Ephakathi neseMpumalanga ngemva kokuphela kobuKhomanisi nokungena kwesimiso sokuhweba ngokukhululekile. E-United States, inani eliqinisekisiwe lezingane eziyizisebenzi liyizigidi ezingu-5,5, kodwa lokhu akuhlanganisi iningi lezingane ezineminyaka engaphansi kwengu-12 ubudala eziqashwe ngokungemthetho ezindaweni lapho zigqilazwa khona noma eziqashwa ngezikhathi ezithile ukuze zisebenze emapulazini amakhulu ngoba ziyizisebenzi ezivela kwamanye amazwe. Lezi zingane eziyizigidi kwenzeka kanjani ukuba zibe yizisebenzi?

Izimbangela Zokugqilazwa Kwezingane

Ubunzima obubangelwa ubumpofu. I-State of the World’s Children 1997 ithi: “Isizathu esikhulu esishukumisela izingane ukuba zenze imisebenzi eyingozi nekhandlayo ubunzima obubangelwa ubumpofu. Emikhayeni empofu, ingxenye encane yeholo lengane noma ukusiza kwayo ekhaya okuvumela abazali ukuba basebenze kungenza umehluko phakathi kokubulawa yindlala nokuthola okwanele nje kokuziphilisa.” Abazali abanezingane ezisebenzayo ngokuvamile basuke bengasebenzi noma bebamba amatoho. Balangazelela iholo elithé xaxa. Ngakho, kungani imisebenzi inikwa izingane zabo kunokuba inikwe bona? Ngoba izingane zingaholelwa imali encane. Ngenxa yokuthi izingane zithobekile futhi kulula ukuzilawula—eziningi zenza lokho ezitshelwa ukuba zikwenze, azikwejwayele ukuphikisana nomuntu onegunya. Ngenxa yokuthi izingane ngeke zibhikishe. Futhi aziziphindiseleli lapho zihlukunyezwa ngokomzimba.

Ukuswela imfundo. USudhir, umfana waseNdiya oneminyaka engu-11 ubudala, ungomunye wezigidi zezingane eziye zashiya phansi isikole zase ziqala ukusebenza. Kungani? Uyaphendula: “Esikoleni othisha babengafundisi kahle. Uma sibacela ukuba basifundise izinhlamvu zamagama, babesishaya. Babelala ekilasini. . . . Uma singaqondanga kahle, babengasicaciseli.” Indlela uSudhir achaza ngayo isikole inembe ngendlela edabukisayo. Emazweni asathuthuka, ukunciphisa kohulumeni izimali ezixhasa izinkonzo zomphakathi kuye kwayithinta kakhulu imfundo. Ukuhlola kwe-UN okwenziwa ngo-1994 emazweni angu-14 asemuva kwezentuthuko emhlabeni kwembula amaqiniso athakazelisayo. Ngokwesibonelo, ingxenye yala mazwe inamakilasi ebanga labaqalayo anezihlalo ezine kubafundi abayishumi. Ingxenye yabafundi ayinazo izincwadi, kanti ingxenye yamakilasi ayinawo amabhodi okubhalela. Kungakho izingane eziningi ezifunda ezikoleni ezinjalo zigcina sezisebenza.

Amathemba angokwesiko. Uma umsebenzi uyingozi futhi unzima, ngokuvamile unikwa amaqembu ezinhlanga ayingcosana, abantu abaswele nabampofu. Ikhuluma ngelinye izwe lase-Asia, i-United Nations Children’s Fund iphawula ukuthi “umbono uwukuthi abanye abantu bazalelwa ukuba babuse futhi basebenze ngezingqondo zabo kuyilapho abanye, okuyiningi, bazalelwa ukuba basebenze ngemizimba yabo.” ENtshonalanga, abantu banesimo sengqondo esifanayo. Abantu abavelele abathandi ukuba izingane zabo zenze umsebenzi oyingozi, kodwa akuthi díki kubona uma izingane zolunye uhlanga, isizwe esiphansi noma umphakathi ompofu ngokomnotho zenza umsebenzi onjalo. Ngokwesibonelo, enyakatho yeYurophu izingane eziyizisebenzi ngokuvamile zivela eTurkey noma e-Afrika; kanti e-United States, ngokuvamile zivela e-Asia noma eLatin-America. Lokhu kusetshenziswa kwezingane kubhebhethekiswa umphakathi wanamuhla oshisekela ukuzanelisa ngokuthenga. Siphakeme kakhulu isidingo semikhiqizo eshibhile. Bambalwa abantu abanendaba nokuthi lezi zinto kungenzeka ukuthi zikhiqizwa izingane eziyizigidi ezingaziwa futhi ezixhashazwayo.

Izinhlobo Zemisebenzi Eyenziwa Yizingane

Yimiphi imisebenzi eyenziwa yizingane? Ngokuvamile, izingane eziningi ezisebenzayo zenza imisebenzi yasekhaya. Izisebenzi ezinjalo zibizwa ngokuthi “izingane ezinganakiwe kakhulu emhlabeni.” Umsebenzi wasekhaya akufanele ube yingozi, kodwa ngokuvamile uba njalo. Izingane eziyizigqila zemisebenzi yasekhaya ngokuvamile ziholelwa imali encane—noma zingaholelwa ngisho nokuholelwa. Abaqashi babeka imibandela yokusebenza kwazo ngokuthanda kwabo. Zincishwa uthando, imfundo, isikhathi sokudlala nethuba lokujabulela ubudlelwane nomphakathi. Futhi zisengozini yokuxhashazwa ngokomzimba nangokobulili.

Ezinye izingane zizithola ziyizisebenzi eziyisibambiso. ENingizimu ye-Asia nakwezinye izindawo, izingane, ngokuvamile ezineminyaka engu-8 noma engu-9 nje kuphela, zinikelwa ngabazali bazo kubaphathi bamafektri noma abameleli babo ukuze baboleke imadlana ethile. Ukugqilazwa kwezingane ukuphila kwazo konke akusinciphisi neze isikweleti.

Kuthiwani ngezingane ezihlukunyezwa ngokobulili ngenjongo yezohwebo? Kulinganiselwa ukuthi unyaka ngamunye amantombazane angaba yisigidi emhlabeni wonke ayengelwa ukuba adayise ngemizimba. Abafana nabo bayaxhashazwa ngokobulili. Ukulimala okungokomzimba nokungokomzwelo okubangelwa ukuxhashazwa ngale ndlela—ingasaphathwa eyokungenwa yi-HIV—kwenza lokhu kube uhlobo oluyingozi kakhulu lomsebenzi owenziwa yizingane. Isifebe saseSenegal esineminyaka engu-15 ubudala sithi: “Umphakathi usibheka njengonondindwa. Akekho ofuna ukusazi noma ukuzihlanganisa nathi obala.”b

Izingane eziningi eziyizisebenzi ziyaxhashazwa emisebenzini yezimboni nezolimo. Izingane ezinjalo zisebenza ezimayini okuyingozi ngisho nakubantu abadala ukusebenza kuzo. Eziningi zinesifo sofuba, isifo sokucinana kwemigudu yokuphefumula nesifuba somoya. Izingane ezisebenza emasimini zichayeka engozini yezibulala-zinambuzane, ukulunywa izinyoka nokuntinyelwa yizinambuzane. Ezinye ziye zanqamuka izitho zomzimba lapho zivuna umoba ngocelemba. Ezinye izingane eziyizigidi ziziphilisa ngokusebenza emigwaqweni. Ngokwesibonelo, cabangela uShireen oneminyaka eyishumi ubudala, oyingcweti yokuphanza emigqonyeni. Akakaze alubhade esikoleni, kodwa uyazi kahle kamhlophe indlela yokuziphilisa ngokwezimali. Uma edayisa iphepha elilahliwe namapulasitiki ngamaRandi amabili kuya kwamathathu, uyakwazi ukuthola ukudla kwasemini. Uma ethole imali engaphansi, akadli lutho. Izingane zasemgwaqweni, ngokuvamile ezibalekela ukuxhashazwa noma ukuphathwa budedengu ekhaya, ziyahlukunyezwa futhi zixhashazwe ngokwengeziwe emigwaqweni. UJosie, oneminyaka eyishumi odayisa uswidi emigwaqweni edolobheni elithile e-Asia, uthi: “Usuku nosuku ngithandazela ukuba nginganqwamani nomuntu ononya.”

Ubuntwana Obonakalisiwe

Ngenxa yokusebenza kwezingane okunjalo, izingane ezingamashumi ezigidi zichayeka ezingozini ezibucayi. Lezi zingozi zibangelwa uhlobo lomsebenzi ezilwenzayo noma izimo zokusebenza ezingezinhle. Izingane nezinye izisebenzi ezisencane zivame ukuvelelwa yizingozi zomsebenzi eziningi kunabantu abadala. Lokhu kungenxa yokuthi ukwakheka komzimba wengane kuhlukile kokomuntu omdala. Umgogodla wengane ungagogeka kalula lapho yenza umsebenzi onzima. Futhi izingane zilimala kakhulu kunabantu abadala lapho zichayeke kumakhemikhali ayingozi noma ezintweni ezikhipha imisebe. Ngaphezu kwalokho, imizimba yezingane ayikufanelekele ukwenza umsebenzi okhandlayo nongapheli amahora amaningi, ngokuvamile okuyisimo izingane ezibhekana naso. Ngokuvamile izingane azizazi izingozi, futhi azinalwazi lokuthi yiziphi izinyathelo zokuphepha okufanele zizithathe.

Imiphumela yokusebenza kwezingane ekukhuleni kwazo okungokwengqondo nokungokomzwelo mibi kakhulu. Izingane ezinjalo zincishwa uthando. Kuvamile ukuba zishaywe, zithukwe, zijeziswe ngokuncishwa ukudla nangokuxhashazwa ngokobulili. Ngokokuhlola okuthile, cishe ingxenye yezingane eziyizisebenzi ezibalelwa ezigidini ezingu-250 ziye zasishiya phansi isikole. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kuye kwaqashelwa ukuthi ikhono lokufunda lezingane ezisebenza amahora amaningi lingase liphazamiseke.

Kusho ukuthini konke lokhu? Kusho ukuthi izingane eziningi eziyizisebenzi ziyobhekana nobumpofu, usizi, ukugula, ukuswela imfundo kanye nekhono lokusebenzelana nomphakathi ukuphila kwazo konke. Noma, njengoba intatheli uRobin Wright yakubeka, “naphezu kwentuthuko yalo kwezesayensi nakwezobuchwepheshe, leli zwe ekupheleni kweKhulu Lama-20 likhiqiza izigidi zezingane ezingenathemba lokuthi ziyoke ziphile ukuphila okuvamile, ingasaphathwa eyokuholela izwe ekhulwini lama-21.” Le miqondo esangulukisayo iphakamisa imibuzo: Izingane kufanele ziphathwe kanjani? Ingabe likhona ikhambi lenkinga yezingane eziyizisebenzi ezixhashazwayo?

[Imibhalo yaphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 5]

Yini Ukugqilazwa Kwezingane?

IZINGANE eziningi emiphakathini yonke ziyasebenza ngandlela-thile. Imisebenzi eziyenzayo iyahlukahluka kuye ngemiphakathi nangesikhathi. Ukusebenza kungaba ingxenye ebalulekile yokufundisa izingane nendlela yokudlulisela amakhono abalulekile kusuka kubazali kuya ezinganeni. Kwamanye amazwe, izingane zivame ukuba nengxenye emikhankasweni yemfundo nemisebenzi emincane, zithuthukele ekubeni yizisebenzi ezinekhono lapho sezikhulile. Kwamanye amazwe, intsha isebenza amahora ambalwa ngesonto ukuze ithole imadlana ethile. I-⁠United Nations Children’s Fund ithi umsebenzi onjalo “unenzuzo, uthuthukisa ukukhula kwengane ngokomzimba, ngokwengqondo, ngokomoya, ngokokuziphatha noma ngokwenhlalo ngaphandle kokuphazamisa umsebenzi wayo wesikole, ukuzijabulisa nesikhathi sokuphumula.”

Ngakolunye uhlangothi, ukugqilazwa kwezingane kusho ukuthi izingane zisebenza amahora amaningi kodwa zihole kancane, ngokuvamile ngaphansi kwezimo ezilimaza impilo yazo. I-State of the World’s Children 1997 ithi lolu hlobo lomsebenzi “ngokusobala luyonakalisa noma luyaxhaphaza. Akukho muntu ongagomela obala ukuthi ukuxhaphaza izingane njengezifebe kuyamukeleka ngaphansi kwezimo ezithile. Kungashiwo okufanayo ‘ngokusebenzisa izingane ngenkani,’ okuyinkulumo esetshenziswa kakhulu lapho kuchazwa ukugqilazwa kwezingane ukuze zikhokhe izikweletu ezenziwa abazali noma ogogo nomkhulu bazo. Lokhu kuthinta nezimboni ezinedumela elibi lokubangela ingozi engokwempilo nokuphepha . . . Umsebenzi oyingozi akufanele neze wenziwe yizingane.”

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 8, 9]

“Kusekuningi Okumelwe Kwenziwe”

I-INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION (ILO) iyahola emizamweni yokuqeda izinhlobo ezimbi kakhulu zemisebenzi eyenziwa yizingane. I-ILO ishukumisa ohulumeni ukuba baphasise umthetho-sisekelo ovimbela ukusetshenziswa kwezingane ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-15 ubudala. Futhi isekela nezivumelwano zokuvimbela izingane eziyizisebenzi ezingaphansi kweminyaka engu-12 ubudala nokwenqabela ukuxhashazwa okuyingozi kakhulu. Ukuze ithole okwengeziwe ngempumelelo yale mizamo, i-Phaphama! yakhuluma noSonia Rosen, umqondisi we-International Child Labor Program, eMnyangweni Wezisebenzi Wase-United States. Uye wasebenzelana eduze nezinhlelo ze-ILO. Nansi ingxenye ethathwe kuleyo ngxoxo.

UMBUZO: Iyiphi indlela ephumelela kakhulu yokulwa nokugqilazwa kwezingane?

IMPENDULO: Asinalo ikhambi elilodwa elifanele. Nokho, emhlabeni wonke, izindaba esiye saxoxa ngazo zingundabamlonyeni, okungukuthi, ukuqiniswa komthetho ngokwanele kanye nemfundo eyisisekelo yabo bonke, efunwa umthetho futhi etholakala mahhala. Ngokuqinisekile, kubalulekile nokuba abazali babe nemisebenzi eyanele.

UMBUZO: Ingabe iyakwanelisa intuthuko eseyenziwe kakade ekulweni nokugqilazwa kwezingane?

IMPENDULO: Anganeliswa neze. Akukho ngane okufanele isebenze ngaphansi kwezimo ezihlukumezayo. Siye safinyelela intuthuko enkulu ngezinhlelo ze-ILO. Kodwa kusekuningi okumelwe kwenziwe.

UMBUZO: Amazwe omhlaba asabela kanjani emizamweni yokuqeda lo mkhuba wokugqilazwa kwezingane?

IMPENDULO: Angisenayo impendulo yalowo mbuzo. Emhlabeni wonke siyavumelana ngandlela-thile ukuthi ukugqilazwa kwezingane kumelwe kufakelwe izibuko. Ngicabanga ukuthi manje imibuzo iwukuthi: Kanjani, futhi ngokushesha kangakanani? Yiziphi izindlela ezingcono kakhulu esingazisebenzisa ukuze sisingathe izinhlobo ezithile zemisebenzi eyenziwa yizingane? Ngicabanga ukuthi lokho kuyinselele yangempela esibhekene nayo.

UMBUZO: Yini izingane eziyizisebenzi ezingayilindela esikhathini esizayo?

IMPENDULO: Wonke amazwe azohlangana eGeneva nonyaka ukuze ayosayina isivumelwano esisha esiphathelene nemisebenzi emibi kakhulu eyenziwa yizingane. Lokho kusiqinisa idolo ngempela—kuyoba khona wonke amazwe, kanye nezinhlangano zezisebenzi nezabaqashi. Sithemba ukuthi lokho kuyosungula uhlelo olusha lokuqeda izinhlobo ezimbi kakhulu zemisebenzi eyenziwa yizingane.

Akubona bonke abanethemba elihle njengoSonia Rosen. UCharles MacCormack, umongameli we-Save the Children, unokungabaza. Uthi: “Kuntuleka ukuzimisela kwezombangazwe nolwazi lomphakathi ukuze kushintshwe isimo.” Ngani? I-United Nations Children’s Fund iyaphawula: “Ukusetshenziswa kwezingane kuyindaba exakayo. Isekelwa amathonya anamandla, ahlanganisa abaqashi, amaqembu asizakala ngesimo nezazi zezomnotho ezisikisela ukuthi kumelwe kuthuthukiswe uhwebo olukhululekile kungakhathaliseki ukuthi kwenzekani, kanye nabashisekeli bamasiko abakholelwa ukuthi isigaba sezingane esithile sikwenza kufaneleke ukuziphuca amalungelo.”

[Isithombe]

USonia Rosen

[Isithombe ekhasini 5]

Umlando odabukisayo wokugqilazwa kwezingane uhlanganisa nokusebenza ezimayini nasezimbonini zikakotini

[Umthombo]

U.S. National Archives photos

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Ukuphanza endaweni enodoti

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Umsebenzi onzima wokutheza izinkuni

[Umthombo]

UN PHOTO 148046/ J. P. Laffont - SYGMA

[Isithombe ekhasini 7]

Ukusebenza efektri yokwenza ukotini

[Umthombo]

CORBIS/Dean Conger

[Isithombe ekhasini 8]

Izingane ezidayisa emgwaqweni zisebenzela imali encane engamasenti angu-40 ngosuku

[Umthombo]

UN PHOTO 148027/Jean Pierre Laffont

[Isithombe ekhasini 8]

Ukusebenza eshabhu lokubaza

[Umthombo]

UN PHOTO 148079/ J. P. Laffont - SYGMA

[Isithombe ekhasini 9]

Umshikashika wokuzama ukuziphilisa

[Umthombo]

UN PHOTO 148048/J. P. Laffont - SYGMA