Charles Dickens, a well –known author, wrote novels. In his novels, he wrote in detail about the condition of children working in factories and coal mines. He inspired people through his novels to raise voice against child labor. It was then that UK British government passed factory Act. It made a rule that: a) no child was allowed to work who was below 9 years of age years of age. B) No child was allowed to work at night. C) The working time of children under the age of 18 was limited to 12 hours.

Good common schools were opened for poor children. They got free education there. About ten years later, the child labor system was stopped in England. But it still exists in India and in many developing countries.

The government of India has also made laws to stop the practice of child labor. But it still continues in many places.

All of us do one or the other work throughout the day. But the work that a person does for earning money is called his/ her occupation. The people are who do different jobs for earning money.

We see many people around us who do different kinds of work. 1) Sweeper sweeps the streets. 2) Washer man washes clothes 3) postman bring us letters 4) Farmer grows food crops 5) doctor treats us when we re ill 6) teachers teaches lessons at school.

School bus driver takes us to the school 7) (children go to school for studies.)

In this way, different people do different work. The work they do to earn money is their occupation, these are the jobs that people go out and do. But there are few chores that are done at home.

Work at home

Our mother cooks food for us. She washes our clothes and keeps the house neat and clean.

Working children

Like us, all children are not lucky. Children belonging to poor families do not get time to play. They go out and work for helping their parents in earning their living. Some of them work in factories, some work in restaurants, mechanic workshop and some work as maids or helpers in houses.

Such children do not get the time to go to school during the day. That is why they go to night school. They work during daytime and study in the evening at school. They lead a very tough life. If children below 14years of age work to earn their living, it is called child labor.

The system of child labor originated in England children worked in coal mines and textile factories. They worked for more than 12 hours a day, just like any adult labor. They were paid very less wages. They were not given any holidays and other facilities.

You must thank God that you have been given so many facilities. You need not go out and work for earning your living. In earlier times, children had to cover long distances by walk for studying. But today the schools have arranged for transport facilities. School buses and vans are there to pick up and drop children at their schools and homes. Good common schools were opened in India and England where poor children were given free education.