Buruh Kanak-Kanak di Malaysia: Satu Sorotan Literatur terhadap Isu dan Cabaran Undang-undang
Abstract
Buruh kanak-kanak merupakan isu yang masih berterusan di peringkat global dan nasional, termasuk di Malaysia, walaupun pelbagai instrumen antarabangsa seperti Konvensyen Hak Kanak-Kanak (CRC) dan Konvensyen Pertubuhan Buruh Antarabangsa (ILO) telah diperkenalkan. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk meninjau literatur sedia ada berkaitan isu buruh kanak-kanak di Malaysia dengan memberi fokus kepada konsep, faktor penyumbang, kerangka perundangan, serta cabaran pelaksanaan dan penguatkuasaan. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah analisis tematik terhadap literatur terpilih bagi mengenal pasti tema utama yang berkaitan dengan isu buruh kanak-kanak serta menilai jurang kajian yang wujud. Dari aspek perundangan, Malaysia telah menggubal beberapa peruntukan berkaitan pekerjaan kanak-kanak, termasuk Akta Kanak-Kanak dan Orang Muda (Pekerjaan) 1966, yang mengawal selia penglibatan kanak-kanak dalam sektor pekerjaan. Namun begitu, literatur menunjukkan bahawa masih wujud kekangan dari segi pelaksanaan undang-undang serta ketiadaan definisi yang jelas mengenai buruh kanak-kanak dalam perundangan domestik. Kajian ini juga meneliti jurang dalam literatur, khususnya berkaitan kekaburan definisi, kekangan data, serta ketidakseragaman dalam penguatkuasaan undang-undang. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa walaupun Malaysia telah meratifikasi instrumen antarabangsa utama dan mempunyai kerangka undang-undang berkaitan, isu pelaksanaan masih menjadi cabaran utama. Oleh itu, kajian ini menekankan keperluan kepada penyeragaman definisi, pengukuhan kerangka perundangan, serta penambahbaikan mekanisme penguatkuasaan bagi memastikan perlindungan hak kanak-kanak dapat dilaksanakan secara lebih efektif.
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