Dr John Mohan Razu
Labour is a vital category and a concomitant component for the societies to survive and people to live. Karl Marx long ago presented a scientific definition and description of labour. Labourers contribute their labour for sustenance in return for who in return transforms something to usable products for physical use and for consumption. The wages that the labourers receive is the bare minimum, and if they are lucky they might liveable wages that can take care of sustaining their families at least partially.
Marx in his analysis which is still regarded a breakthrough in scientifically worked ‘surplus theory of value’ defining and elaborating what he mean by ‘surplus’ and how the percentage is being worked out that adds how much the labour force contributes to that surplus, thereby showing how the profits are accrued. What Marx is saying that surplus is gotten just by adding labour in-put clandestinely that are added to the profits. The dynamic can simply be said as cumulative labour exploitation. Those who control capital invest for the sake of making more money that adds to their capital.
More than 200-years ago Karl Marx said about the capitalist exploitation of labour. What he said make sense even now. But the capitalist continues to exploitative tendencies so that they can maximise profits and, in the process, gradually phasing-out labour or making labour redundant. Our world is moving in such stupendous speed. We are now in an age of AI. Futurologists say that we would come to an era where everything would be taken care by AI. One cannot totally keep aside that argument or postulate, however, one cannot live without labour. Labour having two facets: 1) mind (intellectual), and 2) body(physical).
After all AI is human creation. Surpassing or taking over humans is not possible or even feasible. Nonetheless, capitalists want their capital to grow and the only possibility is by ways of labour exploitation. Be it macro or micro those who control capital are desirous of exploiting labour. Accordingly, they bargain with the labour and prefer the lowest who would work for long hour for which no wages are paid. Major cities in India where the infrastructural developments and housing are going on at stupendous levels those with capital need lakhs of labourers. People from all states keep crisscrossing the country for employment.
For the sake of survival unskilled and skilled labour force keep migrating to bigger cities of employment. They travel hundreds and thousands of kilometres to different cities of India leaving their families back home. This labour force makes the projects enunciated by the state and central governments to come to reality. Without their labour the developments we see across the country would not been made possible. Since they come far distances not knowing the language and culture the contractors exploit them by not paying the wages whatever is due and also not abiding by the hours of work.
Apart from exploiting the unorganised labour force which is called as ‘informal labour force’, the owners of the capital tend to exploit the children also. Child labour is defined as a "child" under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act is a person who has not completed their 14th year of age. The Act, as amended in 2016, prohibits the employment of children under 14 in all occupations and also restricts the employment of adolescents (14–18 years old) in hazardous jobs.
Though the child labour India has approximately 3.3 million children in child labour (ages 5-17) based on the most comprehensive 2018/19 data, with the agriculture sector employing nearly half, followed by industrial and service sectors. While child labour has shown a declining trend in some years, it remains a serious issue, with rural areas having a higher prevalence than urban areas. The states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are considered major hubs of child labour.
A UNICEF report using 2018/19 data estimates around 3.3 million children (1.3% of the child population) are engaged in child labour. The agriculture sector accounts for a significant portion of child labour, employing nearly half of all child workers. The industrial and service sectors also employ a substantial number of children. Child labour is significantly more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas. Child labour is more prevalent among boys than girls at every age, although household chores—which disproportionately affect girls—are often underreported.
A significant proportion of children in child labour are out of school. Children are also engaged in hazardous work, including forced labour in brick kilns, stone quarries, agriculture, and the Zari industry. Some say that at the all-India levels the incidence of children labour is gradually declining, but in the State of Karnataka it has risen by 419%. The data comprehensively show cases registered between 2020 and 2025 show the ascending trend.
Despite spending Rs. 23.43 crore over the past five years to curb child and adolescent labour, Karnatak continues to witness a rise in cases, even as rescue operations have increased significantly. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of children rescued surged from 172 in 2020 to 781 in 2024—a 354 per cent increase—before dropping to 278 by June 2025.
Similarly, cases detected rose from 107 in 2020 to 556 in 2024, a 419 per cent jump, with 164 cases reported in the first half of 2025. Inspections have also fluctuated, peaking at 43,937 in 2021 before totally 1,72,227 over the five-year period. An analysis of the data shows that between 2020and mid-2025, Karnataka’s child labour inspectors, rescues, and cases showed volatile trends. Inspections rose sharply from 6,757 in 2020 to 43, 937 in 2021 (+550 per cent), then dropped 47 per cent to 23,109 in 2022, rebounded 69 per cent to 39, 0001 in 2023, slightly rose 7 per cent to 41,652 in 2024, and fell 57 per cent to 17, 771 by June 2025.
Rescued followed a generally upward trend until 2024, increasing from 172 in 2020 to 781 (+354 per cent) before plunging 64 per cent to 278 in 2025. Cases grew steadily from 107 tin 2020 to 556 in 2024 (+419 per cent) before dropping sharply 70 per cent to 164 to 2025. The data highlights fluctuating enforcement with surges to detections and rescues offset by recent declines. At the same sources say that district level Child Labour Project Societies haired by District Collectors, and taluk-level committees under Tashildars have been overseeing months inspections, raids, and rescue operation.
Take for example, from 2023 to June 2025, 651 cases were filed in court, leading to 50 convictions and fines totally Rs. 31.91 lakh. Bengaluru Urban distinct reported the highest number of cases, with 123 incidents and 88 children. Incidence of child labour continues. The primarily reason is those who live below the poverty line are unable to meet both the ends, and so send their children for work in the areas where exploitation is suspectable. Awareness-raising programs and child-right initiatives have not been that effective. Serious attention is to be given by the Centre and the state governments by addressing the core factor that triggers child labour
