Child Labour

What is child labour?

Child labour is defined as the use of children in industry or business, especially when illegal

or considered inhumane. It is work that is mentally or physically dangerous and interferes

with their ability to go to school.

Why does it happen?

Children can be involved in child labour for various reasons, among the main causes are:

1. Poverty: The root cause. The need to survive leads children from poor families to work

at a young age in order to fulfill their necessities.

2. Natural disasters and climate change: When farming land is ruined, families dedicated

to agriculture struggle to make a living and are more likely to send their children to work

in neighboring farms.

3. Limited access to education: Parents may not understand or see the short and

long-term value of their child receiving an education instead of working.

4. Repression of worker’s rights: Unethical employers prefer hiring children because

they can be paid lower wages with limited bargaining power.

5. Limitations on law: Child labour laws around the world include exemptions such as

agriculture or domestic work. Also, labor departments are often under-funded and

under-staffed, few resources are available for enforcing these laws.

Effects of child labour

Children perform extreme activities such as: working at heights without safe equipment,

using dangerous tools, carrying heavy loads and living in isolation without respecting their

eating and sleeping hours.

All these leads to nothing but negative effects to the children’s development in the long term:

In health, child labourers can suffer malnutrition, injuries, psychological harm and physical

abuse. Common problems also include respiratory illnesses and growth prevention due to

exposure to chemicals and pesticides.

In social development, it can interfere with social relations, as the kid spends time doing

labor instead of interacting with other kids. This can lead to insecurity and other emotional

problems like isolation and depression.

The actual problem

Did you know that there are 160 million victims of child labour worldwide? And due to

the COVID-19 pandemic, rising poverty will push another 9 million children into child labour

by 2022?

The persistence of child labour in today’s world is unacceptable, something to be really

concerned about...

Child labour in numbers

Of the 160 million children in child labour:

· Almost half (48%) are between ages 5 and 11.

· 62% are boys, however the number of girls is underreported due to hidden forms of

work, such as domestic labour.

· 71% are in agriculture.

· 17% are in services (sex trafficking and tourism, domestic and food services).

Regions with the most cases of child labor:

Child labor is concentrated in the world’s poorest countries and in fragile contexts where

there is insecurity, strong beliefs or armed conflict:

· Africa (72 million): Parents sell their children in exchange for livestock, which are

considered more profitable.

· Asia (62 million): Girls are sold as prostitutes or workers in factories or households to

cover debts.

· Latin America (10.5 million): Children are victims of prostitution or extreme agricultural

work.

What can you do about it?

Support Fair Trade.- Be conscious of the products you buy, choose companies that are

ethically made.

Demand Transparency.- Collectively demanding companies to take notice and address

their supply chain practices, can make a difference for greater transparency.

Get Informed.- Educate yourself about the problems and what your government is doing

about it. Participate in discussions, protests and events in your city, sign petitions.

Raise Awareness.- Share information with your community through social media of the

dangers of child labour and impact on the health so we can increase the understanding.

Don’t Stay Quiet.- If you know companies or people allowing child labour, report to the local

authorities. You can be part of early identification and help prevent potential situations.

“All children deserve to live a good life, have access to education and healthcare, exercise

their fundamental rights and be able to aspire to a great future”