61. The BNHRC takes into consideration the findings of the Baseline Survey for Determining Hazardous Child Labour Sectors (BBS 2005) which states that only 8.1 per cent of families whose children are engaged in hazardous child labour would slide into poverty if there was a loss of child labour income. However, evidence shows that child labour hinders future economic growth and the accumulation of human capital. Children are deprived of future income-generating capacities and their lifetime earning ability was reduced by 13-20per cent due to entering the workforce at a young age.81 62. The BNHRC has repeatedly emphasised the need to end the endemic practice of child labour. The vast majority of child workers continued to be engaged in informal sectors where occupational healtth and safety protections, wages and legal and social protection were either absent or inadequate. The BNHRC has recommended a national action plan in conformity with the national Child Labour Elimination policy 2010. Recognizing the particular siuation of many extremely poor and vulnerable families who relied on child labour to survive, the BNHRC has urged the GoB to establish safety net programmes to provide the required financial and social benefits to those families.82 The BNHRC notes with concern that government data relating to child labour dates ten years back and urges the Government to initiate a new nationwide survey and to update its data bank. 63. MINIMUM AGE FOR ADMISSION TO EMPLOYMENT The BNHRC remains concerned that Bangladesh has not ratified the ILO Minimum Age Convention No. 138. The Labour Act 2006 has set the minimum age for admission to employment at 14. Accordingly, employment of children below the age of 14 is prohibited. However, a child of 12 years or above may be engaged in light work which is not detrimental to his/her health or education. A child will not be appointed for employment unless the employer obtains a certificate of fitness from a registered doctor. In view of the BNHRC, the Act provides a leeway for employing children in light works in that a child above the age of 12 years but below 14 years may be engaged.83 64. The BNHRC particularly notes that the awareness regarding the minimum age of employment was quite low amongst child labourers (15 per cent) and their parents (20 per cent), when compared to non-child labourers (36 per cent) and their parents (62 per cent). Furthermore, the awareness regarding the above matter was even lower amongst the female parent/guardian of child labourer (12 per cent) compared to the male parent (21 per cent). Only 62 per cent male and 59 per cent female respondents were found to be aware of the minimum age of employment as provided for in the legislation of the country. The majority of employers (61 per cent) were unaware of the minimum age of employment in Bangladesh. However, 39 per cent of the employers were aware of the minimum age of employment.84 . 81 Ibid Ibid. Supra 23, at p. 7. 84 UNICEF, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Expectation (KAPE) Study on Child Labour in Bangladesh, 2011, p. 23. 82 83 24