Children working in a carpet factory in the Capital have complained about inhuman working condition and sexual harassment to the Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB).

According to the CCWB, a group of 10 children, including girls aged between 8-16, fled the carpet factory and sought protection from the board.

“Children have complained about their work load, sexual harassment and minimal pay,” said Namuna Bhusal, programme officer at the CCWB, declining to divulge details due to sensitive nature of the case.

The children said they could not take any more of the suffering and had run away from the work place. They have also filed complaints about long working hours and sexual harassment. They were forced to work from seven in the morning till late into the night and were never paid the promised amount, according to them.

“After working throughout the day with just half-an-hour break for the midday meal, girls had to endure sexual harassment from people inside the factory,” said a 14-year-old girl. The girls had been forced to sleep in a room which happened to be the only way to the restroom, while the boys slept in the adjacent room which resulted in cases of sexual violence frequently, the girls said. The children also complained that have been given only half a day’s break every week and that they had not been paid for a several months.