It is popularly believed that poverty is mainly responsible for child labour, but with the advancement of the country, there was no corresponding decline in child labour, they said.

Voluntary Association for Family Welfare and Social Development (VAFWSD) in association with Manusher Jonno Foundation organised the roundtable titled 'Our responsibility in establishing the rights of children working in motor garage and welding workshop' at Cirdap auditorium in the city.

Kabir Ahmed Chowdhury, principal of the Institute of Industrial Relations in Gazipur, said various government and non-government organisations have so far identified 400 risky occupations in the country.

He also said time-bound projects should be taken immediately to eliminate child labour from the hazardous sector by 2015.

Kabir Ahmed also called on the government to set up a labour welfare fund for the welfare of workers in both formal and informal sectors, suggesting that the industrial enterprises should donate a part of their profit to the fund.

Speaking as the chief guest, Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation Shaheen Anam said children are a vulnerable group in society and the girl children are more vulnerable.

She called for ensuring social safety net for the working children in both formal and informal sectors and changing attitude towards them.

Farzana Nayeem, programme director (Governance) of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said a child needs other people's help for his/her mental and physical growth. If they are deprived of care and affection in their childhood and face adverse situations in workplaces, their growth would be stunted, she added.

Shamim, 15, a child worker who took part in the roundtable, said he is an orphan but does not want his younger sister to face the same fate as he.

He also said that he would earn money to provide education for his sister.

Speaking at the programme, garage and workshop owners said they treat children working in their workshops with kindness.

They also said that they sometimes have to employ under age children on persistent request from their parents.

VAFWSD Chief Executive Dr Abdul Quaiyum Laskar chaired the programme and its Programme Manager Shaila Yesmin and Executive Director of Steps Towards Development Ranjan Karmakar also spoke.