Study finds 4.5 lakhs child laborers engaged in e-waste activities in India

NEW DELHI (Scrap Monster): The recent study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has found that nearly 4.5 lakh child laborers are engaged in various electronic waste activities in the country. The study report published on ‘Earth Day’ has further observed that not all workplaces had adequate protection and safeguards.

D S Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM noted that children, mostly in the age group of 10-14 are employed by the informal recycling industry to dismantle electronic waste. Over 95% of the electronic waste in the country is handled by unorganized sector players including scrap dealers who break the products into various parts instead of recycling them.

The study conducted by ASSOCHAM in association with Frost & Sullivan predicts India’s e-waste to grow to 15 lakh metric tonnes by end-2015, at a CAGR of 25%. Computer devices account for bulk of the e-waste in the country, accounting for nearly 70% of the total electronic waste. More than 50% of the discarded electronic products land up in junkyards and landfills.

The study recommends the government to act upon a legislation to prevent children’s entry into the e-waste labor market, as the toxic materials contained in these products could cause harm to their life.