Why is child labour a problem?
Exploiting children is illegal and it's wrong. Instead of going to school and experiencing childhood, nearly 300,000 children in India, Nepal and Pakistan are spending long days working in poor conditions. Child labour also drives down adult wages and keeps entire communities in poverty.

Why is it vital to end child labour?
Ending child labour would help the global economy. A study by the International Labour Office shows that it would cost $760 billion over a 20-year period to end child labour. The estimated benefit in terms of better education and health is about six times that—over $4 trillion in economies where child labourers are found.

Isn't it true that children in poor countries must work to feed themselves and their families?
That is an image that has been portrayed and may seem acceptable to some. But the reality is that children wouldn't have to work if employers paid their parents a living wage and if governments made affordable education for all children a priority. And most child weavers are working in debt bondage, which means that they do not even earn a wage.

Aren't children allowed to work in some countries?
Child labour is illegal in India, Nepal and Pakistan, where RugMark works.

Work teaches skills and a sense of responsibility. Why not allow a child to work?
Letting a child help out with a task for a few minutes instils pride and self-confidence. But children don't have the mental or physical capacity to cope with adult workloads or take full responsibility for getting a job done.

If children can't afford to go to school, isn't learning a trade a good idea?
Childhood comes only once, and every child has a right to celebrate it. Children are better off being children—going to school, playing hopscotch and daydreaming. No child under age 14 should be working illegally. Children should be in school. When we end child labour, adult weavers’ wages will increase and parents will be able to pay for their children’s education.