Contents:

Child workers face uncertain future

Japanese student abducted in Iran

Indian children work despite ban

Child workers face uncertain future
By Geeta Pandey
BBC News, Delhi 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/6034203.stm
Published: 2006/10/09 16:50:16 GMT
© BBC MMVII

Dhiraj Kumar is staring at an uncertain future. Until two days ago, he worked at a tea stall at the Indian capital, Delhi's, biggest bus station, ISBT.

His 12-hour shift began at nine in the night. He made tea, washed pots and pans and glasses, and served the customers.

For his work, he was paid 50 rupees (a little more than $1) a day. On the days business was bad, he was paid less, with the promise that the balance would come tomorrow. And, says Dhiraj, tomorrow seldom comes.

When a glass was stolen from the tea shop, he was held responsible and sacked.

Dhiraj tells me he is 14 years old. I tell him he looks younger. "I was born in July 1992. You do the maths," he insists.

A child rights activist, Ashraf, who works with him, says when he met Dhiraj last month, he said he was 13.

"In just a month he is grown by a year since he knows he is no longer employable from Tuesday unless he is 14," says Ashraf.

Japanese student abducted in Iran
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7038893.stm
Published: 2007/10/11 03:41:46 GMT
© BBC MMVII 

A Japanese student has been kidnapped by an armed group in south-eastern Iran, officials in Tokyo said.

The 23-year-old man was seized on Monday as he travelled alone around the area, foreign ministry officials said.

The student called the Japanese embassy in Tehran to say he had been captured, Kyodo news agency reported.

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said he had asked his Iranian counterpart, Monouchehr Mottaki, for help to resolve the matter.

"He said they have identified the whereabouts of the abductee and he told me he will make efforts to resolve the issue," Mr Komura told journalists.

The student, whose identity has not been released, crossed into Iran after travelling in Pakistan, Kyodo said.

There have been a series of abductions targeting foreigners in Iran's lawless south-eastern region.

The area is a conduit for gangs smuggling drugs from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In August, two Belgians tourists were seized in the area. Both have now been released.

Indian children work despite ban
By Geeta Pandey
BBC News, Delhi 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/7036981.stm
Published: 2007/10/10 07:22:02 GMT
© BBC MMVII

A year after India banned children under 14 from working as domestic servants or in food stalls, millions continue to be employed, a study says.

The study released by Save the Children says these children are routinely subjected to different forms of abuse and a lot still needs of be done.

Many of the child workers are denied food, and are beaten up, burnt or sexually abused, the study says.

According to official estimates, India has more than 12 million child workers.

Of these, about 200,000 are estimated to be working as domestic servants and in teashops, restaurants, spas, hotels, resorts and other recreational centres - the areas from where they were banned last year.

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