剝削童工
剝削童工是指僱用低過最低法定工作年齡的兒童，使他們失去求學的機會。
在世界上最貧窮的國家，每四名兒童便有一名從事童工勞動。世界銀行的數字顯示，全球童工比率已在1960年至2003年間從25%下降到10%。儘管如此，童工總數仍然很高，一些研究估計仍然有一億六千八百萬名五至十七歲的兒童從事童工。其中數以百萬計的兒童涉及最惡劣的工種包括當兵、賣淫和運毒。童工問題是由多個因素綜合而成，例如貧困、社會文化縱容、成人和青少年缺乏工作機會、人口遷移和應付家庭經濟危機等。
非洲是童工最多的地區，其次是亞洲和太平洋地區。童工無疑有短期的正面經濟效益，因為孩子能替家庭帶來多點金錢，但由於缺乏學校教育，長期的經濟影響卻是負面的。
柬埔寨
柬埔寨的法定最低工作年齡是十四歲，但國內卻顯然有大量童工。據1998年的估計，在年齡介乎十至十四歲的兒童中，每五個便有一個從事經濟活動，其中很多工時很長，據報導約有六萬五千名年齡介乎五到十三歲之間的兒童，每週要工作二十五小時而沒有上學。
柬埔寨的經濟增長和發展是其中一個導致童工數目上升的因素。建築業的龐大需求正是一個把孩子迫進工廠工作的例子；農業和製衣業也使用大量的童工。聯合國的調查發現軍方醫院中43%的地雷爆炸傷難者是兒童，他們是在年齡介乎十歲至十六歲間被徵召入伍的。地雷爆炸對健康造成極其嚴重的傷害，對兒童尤甚。
緬甸
一份在2015年發表的政府報告指出，緬甸國內年齡介乎十至十七歲的兒童中，每五個便有一個要工作，無法上學，實際數字相信可能會更高。根據2015年的勞動力調查報告，緬甸國內有一百一十萬年齡介乎五至十七歲的童工，其中超過一半（接近六十二萬人或相當於國內5.1%的兒童人口）被迫從事很可能會損害生理、心理或心志發展的危險性工作。很多童工要應付很長的工時，25.8%十二至十四歲和24.3%十五至十七歲的人每週工時是六十小時或以上。難怪在童工問題上，緬甸是臭名昭著的最差國家之一。
為柬埔寨和緬甸禱告
–湯邱佩華傳道
慈愛的天父上帝，祢是那創始成終的神，配得稱頌與讚美。祢愛護看顧世人，耶穌說:「讓小孩到我這裏來」，因此祢尤其寵愛孩子，我們誠心將柬埔寨和緬甸活在水深火熱的孩童及年青人，放在祢的恩手中，當他們還在母腹裏，祢已認識個別的名字，更承諾聆聽應允他們的呼求。
慈愛的天父上帝，因著七十年代殘酷的赤柬內戰，很多柬埔寨的父母還未能從陰霾的經歷中走出來，以致他們不懂得愛護自己的孩子，在貧困時更會以廉價將幼如五、六歲的子女賣到妓寨作性奴隸。天父，我們懇求祢的憐憫，免除他們身心靈所受的傷害，當他們處於非言辭所能表達的痛苦中，願祢的安慰及力量伴著他們。父啊，求祢讓這些孩子在強暴的蹂躝下，藉著你的恩手得以痊癒，他們所流的眼淚，祢會用皮袋裝起，我們亦深信，祢大能的力量可把這群受虐的孩子，從罪犯的操控中釋放出來，好讓他們能有健康成長的環境，並能接受適當的教育，以致不需再依靠皮肉生涯去過活。父啊，求祢把這些販賣人口的罪犯、強迫孩子作雛妓的父母，與及一群嫖客的石心轉化為肉心，好讓他們對自己的行為有所悔過，不再迫害受傷的孩子。當這群弱小的雛妓走過那死蔭的幽谷時，深信祢會用杖與竿安慰、引領他們，把孩子擁入祢永恆慈愛的膀臂裏。
慈愛的天父上帝，我們同樣將緬甸的孩子放在祢的恩手中，因為國內一百三十多個少數民族不斷發生衝突和內戰，以致貧困、病痛、飢餓、疾苦、驚惶、迷失、喪掉父母、無家可歸、缺乏安全感，經常像陰影般圍困著這群無助的孩子。天父啊，求祢的眼目看顧他們，尤其那些處於戰區的孩童，因為沒有父母或成人在身邊支持引導，他們是如此的失落、迷惘，我們懇求神賜予一個安定的居所，好讓他們能在主愛裏重得溫暖和希望。父啊，因緬甸是一個以佛教為主的國家，很多孩子從小便被送到寺院作學徒，求父讓他們脫離敬拜偶像的捆鎖，有機會聽聞福音以致得救，接受永生。這些孤兒雖然失去地上的父母，求神讓他們深信天上有一位更愛他們的父，時常看顧、保守、引導。
慈愛的天父上帝，我們同心懇求祢賜予柬埔寨和緬甸的孩子一個生機，好讓他們在主裏每天都在喜樂、平安、慈愛和盼望中成長，求父祢用大能的手圍繞及引領他們，尤其當他們要作重大決定或於危難關頭，願祢與他們同在。 我們深信神是恩慈、信實的父，定必會側耳聆聽孩子的呼求，定必會賜予安慰，在他們心中動工，保守他們的靈魂。我們誠心禱告，乃是奉靠主耶穌基督寶貴的名字而求，阿們。
如果你想瞭解更多關於城北在柬埔寨和緬甸的和平福音工作，或有負擔參與這方面的服侍，請以電郵方式聯絡湯邱佩華傳道。
Exploitation of Child Labour
Exploitation of Child Labour refers to employing children under a minimum legal age in any work that interferes with their opportunity to attend regular school.
In the world’s poorest countries, around 1 in 4 children are engaged in child labour. Globally the incidence of child labour decreased from 25% to 10% between 1960 and 2003, according to the World Bank. Nevertheless, the total number of child labourers remains high. Some global estimates indicate that 168 million children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in child labour. Millions of them suffer in the other worst forms of child labour including child soldiering, sexual exploitation, or drug trafficking. Child labour is the combined product of many factors, such as poverty, social norms condoning it, lack of decent work opportunities for adults and adolescents, migration, and emergencies.
The highest incidence of child labour is in Africa followed by Asia and the Pacific. It is believed that Child labour has short term positive economic effects because the children are bringing in more money for their families, but the long term economic effects are negative due to the lack of schooling.
Cambodia
Cambodia specified the minimum age to work to be at age 14. Yet, significant levels of child labour appear to be found in Cambodia. In 1998, it was estimated that 1 in 5 children in Cambodia aged between 10 and 14 were economically active. Many of these children work long hours and it was reported that approximately 65,000 children between the ages of 5 to 13 worked 25 hours a week and did not attend schools.
Cambodia’s economic growth and progress is one of the contributing factors to the increasing number of child labourers. The huge demand of the construction industry is one example where it has pushed children to work in factories. The agricultural sector and garment industry also utilize a large percentage of child labour. Some studies by the UN found that 43 percent of mine explosion victims in military hospitals were conscripted when they were between ten and sixteen years old. The health effects of such mine explosions are extremely severe, especially for children.
Myanmar
Based on a government report in 2015, one in five children in Myanmar aged 10 to 17 are working instead of attending school. The real number is estimated to be higher. According to the 2015 Labour Force Survey Report 1.1 million children aged 5 to 17 years. Over half of the child labourers – 616,815 or 5.1% of the child population – are trapped in hazardous work likely to harm their physical, mental or moral development. A lot of child labour tend to work very long hours – 25.8% of the 12-14 years old and 24.3% of the 15-17 years old worked 60 hours or more. It is little wonder that Myanmar has a reputation for being one of the worst countries for underage labour.
Praying for Cambodia & Myanmar
– Pastor Teresa Tong
O Father God, you are worthy to be praised. You are the great creator of Heaven and Earth. You are Alpha, you are Omega and yet you love and care for each one of us. We know that you love children as Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me.” We particularly lift up children and youth in Cambodia and Myanmar who are suffering in deep water of grief. You know each one of them by name as you formed them in their mother’s womb and you promise to hear them when they call upon your name.
O Father God, as most Cambodians are still recovering from the traumatized experience of Khmer Rouge (their civil war in the 70’s), many parents do not know how to love and protect their young children. Due to poverty, they may even sell them to brothel houses to serve as a sex slave at an age as young as 5-6 years old.
O Father, we ask for your grace to spare these young victims from physical and emotional sufferings. We plead for your mercy to comfort and strengthen them by their sides when they go through great grief that is beyond words could express. We beg you, Father, to let them recover from such abusive tortures. We know you will collect all these young victims’ tears in your bottle and keep track of their sorrows. We trust that your almighty power could deliver them from the evil control of those sex trafficking gangsters. O Father God, please grant them a healthy upbringing with a normal childhood and let them have the chance to receive education so that they do not have to rely on their body and sexual business to earn a living. Father, please also change the hardened hearts of those sex traffickers, parents of the victims and pedophiles into fleshy hearts so that they will have remorse over their evil acts and turn away from such sinful crimes that cause traumatized hurts to so many young souls that you dearly love. As they go through the valley of the shadow of death, we trust that you will be there to comfort them, guide them with your staff and embrace them with your everlasting arms.
O Father God, we also lift up the children in Myanmar. With the ongoing civil wars among the 135 minor tribes within the country, poverty, sickness, chaotic life, loss of parents, tears, hunger, fear, homelessness, lack of sense of belonging, direction and security have always been shadowing over these young ones that are dear to your heart. O Father, we ask for your eyes to watch over these helpless children and youth, especially those that are near the war zone. Very often, they have no parents around them. They are lost and confused during the development stage. We plead for your provision of a stable home or orphanage that could give them warmth and hope in Christ’s love. Since Myanmar is a Buddhist country, many children have been forced to serve as a monk since young. Father God, please deliver them from the bondage of idolatry and let them have the chance to hear your Gospel so that they will be saved and get an eternal life. Even though many children in Myanmar do not have earthly parents, please let them realize that there is a Heavenly Father who always watches over them.
O Father God, we plead for a renewed life for children and youth in Cambodia and Myanmar so that they will anchor their soul in love, joy, peace and hope based on their faith in Christ. Wrap your great arms around these young people, draw them close to you, and be there when they stand at the great intersection of making decisions or having great challenges in life. We trust that God is faithful, as a loving Father, to hear and answer that cry of the young hearts. You will be there to comfort them and work within the soul of your beloved children. We pray in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.
If you are interested in knowing more about RHCCC’s PEACE program in Cambodia and Myanmar or would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Pastor Teresa Tong.
剝削童工
剝削童工是指僱用低過最低法定工作年齡的兒童，使他們失去求學的機會。
在世界上最貧窮的國家，每四名兒童便有一名從事童工勞動。世界銀行的數字顯示，全球童工比率已在1960年至2003年間從25%下降到10%。儘管如此，童工總數仍然很高，一些研究估計仍然有一億六千八百萬名五至十七歲的兒童從事童工。其中數以百萬計的兒童涉及最惡劣的工種包括當兵、賣淫和運毒。童工問題是由多個因素綜合而成，例如貧困、社會文化縱容、成人和青少年缺乏工作機會、人口遷移和應付家庭經濟危機等。
非洲是童工最多的地區，其次是亞洲和太平洋地區。童工無疑有短期的正面經濟效益，因為孩子能替家庭帶來多點金錢，但由於缺乏學校教育，長期的經濟影響卻是負面的。
柬埔寨
柬埔寨的法定最低工作年齡是十四歲，但國內卻顯然有大量童工。據1998年的估計，在年齡介乎十至十四歲的兒童中，每五個便有一個從事經濟活動，其中很多工時很長，據報導約有六萬五千名年齡介乎五到十三歲之間的兒童，每週要工作二十五小時而沒有上學。
柬埔寨的經濟增長和發展是其中一個導致童工數目上升的因素。建築業的龐大需求正是一個把孩子迫進工廠工作的例子；農業和製衣業也使用大量的童工。聯合國的調查發現軍方醫院中43%的地雷爆炸傷難者是兒童，他們是在年齡介乎十歲至十六歲間被徵召入伍的。地雷爆炸對健康造成極其嚴重的傷害，對兒童尤甚。
緬甸
一份在2015年發表的政府報告指出，緬甸國內年齡介乎十至十七歲的兒童中，每五個便有一個要工作，無法上學，實際數字相信可能會更高。根據2015年的勞動力調查報告，緬甸國內有一百一十萬年齡介乎五至十七歲的童工，其中超過一半（接近六十二萬人或相當於國內5.1%的兒童人口）被迫從事很可能會損害生理、心理或心志發展的危險性工作。很多童工要應付很長的工時，25.8%十二至十四歲和24.3%十五至十七歲的人每週工時是六十小時或以上。難怪在童工問題上，緬甸是臭名昭著的最差國家之一。
為柬埔寨和緬甸禱告
–湯邱佩華傳道
慈愛的天父上帝，祢是那創始成終的神，配得稱頌與讚美。祢愛護看顧世人，耶穌說:「讓小孩到我這裏來」，因此祢尤其寵愛孩子，我們誠心將柬埔寨和緬甸活在水深火熱的孩童及年青人，放在祢的恩手中，當他們還在母腹裏，祢已認識個別的名字，更承諾聆聽應允他們的呼求。
慈愛的天父上帝，因著七十年代殘酷的赤柬內戰，很多柬埔寨的父母還未能從陰霾的經歷中走出來，以致他們不懂得愛護自己的孩子，在貧困時更會以廉價將幼如五、六歲的子女賣到妓寨作性奴隸。天父，我們懇求祢的憐憫，免除他們身心靈所受的傷害，當他們處於非言辭所能表達的痛苦中，願祢的安慰及力量伴著他們。父啊，求祢讓這些孩子在強暴的蹂躝下，藉著你的恩手得以痊癒，他們所流的眼淚，祢會用皮袋裝起，我們亦深信，祢大能的力量可把這群受虐的孩子，從罪犯的操控中釋放出來，好讓他們能有健康成長的環境，並能接受適當的教育，以致不需再依靠皮肉生涯去過活。父啊，求祢把這些販賣人口的罪犯、強迫孩子作雛妓的父母，與及一群嫖客的石心轉化為肉心，好讓他們對自己的行為有所悔過，不再迫害受傷的孩子。當這群弱小的雛妓走過那死蔭的幽谷時，深信祢會用杖與竿安慰、引領他們，把孩子擁入祢永恆慈愛的膀臂裏。
慈愛的天父上帝，我們同樣將緬甸的孩子放在祢的恩手中，因為國內一百三十多個少數民族不斷發生衝突和內戰，以致貧困、病痛、飢餓、疾苦、驚惶、迷失、喪掉父母、無家可歸、缺乏安全感，經常像陰影般圍困著這群無助的孩子。天父啊，求祢的眼目看顧他們，尤其那些處於戰區的孩童，因為沒有父母或成人在身邊支持引導，他們是如此的失落、迷惘，我們懇求神賜予一個安定的居所，好讓他們能在主愛裏重得溫暖和希望。父啊，因緬甸是一個以佛教為主的國家，很多孩子從小便被送到寺院作學徒，求父讓他們脫離敬拜偶像的捆鎖，有機會聽聞福音以致得救，接受永生。這些孤兒雖然失去地上的父母，求神讓他們深信天上有一位更愛他們的父，時常看顧、保守、引導。
慈愛的天父上帝，我們同心懇求祢賜予柬埔寨和緬甸的孩子一個生機，好讓他們在主裏每天都在喜樂、平安、慈愛和盼望中成長，求父祢用大能的手圍繞及引領他們，尤其當他們要作重大決定或於危難關頭，願祢與他們同在。 我們深信神是恩慈、信實的父，定必會側耳聆聽孩子的呼求，定必會賜予安慰，在他們心中動工，保守他們的靈魂。我們誠心禱告，乃是奉靠主耶穌基督寶貴的名字而求，阿們。
如果你想瞭解更多關於城北在柬埔寨和緬甸的和平福音工作，或有負擔參與這方面的服侍，請以電郵方式聯絡湯邱佩華傳道。
Exploitation of Child Labour
Exploitation of Child Labour refers to employing children under a minimum legal age in any work that interferes with their opportunity to attend regular school.
In the world’s poorest countries, around 1 in 4 children are engaged in child labour. Globally the incidence of child labour decreased from 25% to 10% between 1960 and 2003, according to the World Bank. Nevertheless, the total number of child labourers remains high. Some global estimates indicate that 168 million children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in child labour. Millions of them suffer in the other worst forms of child labour including child soldiering, sexual exploitation, or drug trafficking. Child labour is the combined product of many factors, such as poverty, social norms condoning it, lack of decent work opportunities for adults and adolescents, migration, and emergencies.
The highest incidence of child labour is in Africa followed by Asia and the Pacific. It is believed that Child labour has short term positive economic effects because the children are bringing in more money for their families, but the long term economic effects are negative due to the lack of schooling.
Cambodia
Cambodia specified the minimum age to work to be at age 14. Yet, significant levels of child labour appear to be found in Cambodia. In 1998, it was estimated that 1 in 5 children in Cambodia aged between 10 and 14 were economically active. Many of these children work long hours and it was reported that approximately 65,000 children between the ages of 5 to 13 worked 25 hours a week and did not attend schools.
Cambodia’s economic growth and progress is one of the contributing factors to the increasing number of child labourers. The huge demand of the construction industry is one example where it has pushed children to work in factories. The agricultural sector and garment industry also utilize a large percentage of child labour. Some studies by the UN found that 43 percent of mine explosion victims in military hospitals were conscripted when they were between ten and sixteen years old. The health effects of such mine explosions are extremely severe, especially for children.
Myanmar
Based on a government report in 2015, one in five children in Myanmar aged 10 to 17 are working instead of attending school. The real number is estimated to be higher. According to the 2015 Labour Force Survey Report 1.1 million children aged 5 to 17 years. Over half of the child labourers – 616,815 or 5.1% of the child population – are trapped in hazardous work likely to harm their physical, mental or moral development. A lot of child labour tend to work very long hours – 25.8% of the 12-14 years old and 24.3% of the 15-17 years old worked 60 hours or more. It is little wonder that Myanmar has a reputation for being one of the worst countries for underage labour.
Praying for Cambodia & Myanmar
– Pastor Teresa Tong
O Father God, you are worthy to be praised. You are the great creator of Heaven and Earth. You are Alpha, you are Omega and yet you love and care for each one of us. We know that you love children as Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me.” We particularly lift up children and youth in Cambodia and Myanmar who are suffering in deep water of grief. You know each one of them by name as you formed them in their mother’s womb and you promise to hear them when they call upon your name.
O Father God, as most Cambodians are still recovering from the traumatized experience of Khmer Rouge (their civil war in the 70’s), many parents do not know how to love and protect their young children. Due to poverty, they may even sell them to brothel houses to serve as a sex slave at an age as young as 5-6 years old.
O Father, we ask for your grace to spare these young victims from physical and emotional sufferings. We plead for your mercy to comfort and strengthen them by their sides when they go through great grief that is beyond words could express. We beg you, Father, to let them recover from such abusive tortures. We know you will collect all these young victims’ tears in your bottle and keep track of their sorrows. We trust that your almighty power could deliver them from the evil control of those sex trafficking gangsters. O Father God, please grant them a healthy upbringing with a normal childhood and let them have the chance to receive education so that they do not have to rely on their body and sexual business to earn a living. Father, please also change the hardened hearts of those sex traffickers, parents of the victims and pedophiles into fleshy hearts so that they will have remorse over their evil acts and turn away from such sinful crimes that cause traumatized hurts to so many young souls that you dearly love. As they go through the valley of the shadow of death, we trust that you will be there to comfort them, guide them with your staff and embrace them with your everlasting arms.
O Father God, we also lift up the children in Myanmar. With the ongoing civil wars among the 135 minor tribes within the country, poverty, sickness, chaotic life, loss of parents, tears, hunger, fear, homelessness, lack of sense of belonging, direction and security have always been shadowing over these young ones that are dear to your heart. O Father, we ask for your eyes to watch over these helpless children and youth, especially those that are near the war zone. Very often, they have no parents around them. They are lost and confused during the development stage. We plead for your provision of a stable home or orphanage that could give them warmth and hope in Christ’s love. Since Myanmar is a Buddhist country, many children have been forced to serve as a monk since young. Father God, please deliver them from the bondage of idolatry and let them have the chance to hear your Gospel so that they will be saved and get an eternal life. Even though many children in Myanmar do not have earthly parents, please let them realize that there is a Heavenly Father who always watches over them.
O Father God, we plead for a renewed life for children and youth in Cambodia and Myanmar so that they will anchor their soul in love, joy, peace and hope based on their faith in Christ. Wrap your great arms around these young people, draw them close to you, and be there when they stand at the great intersection of making decisions or having great challenges in life. We trust that God is faithful, as a loving Father, to hear and answer that cry of the young hearts. You will be there to comfort them and work within the soul of your beloved children. We pray in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.
If you are interested in knowing more about RHCCC’s PEACE program in Cambodia and Myanmar or would like to participate in this ministry, please contact Pastor Teresa Tong.