Junior School Magazine - Edition 6 (NOV 2018)

C hild L abour - continued

Challenges and Opportunities Locally and Globally Although there are several definitions of child labour, they all have a similar meaning and message. For example, one definition for child labour states that child labour is work that deprives children from their potential childhood and their dignity. It’s dangerous work that exceeds reasonable hours and interferes with a child’s education. Another definition says that child labour involves employment of children below the minimum age of 15 years, doing hazardous unpaid household chores for long hours in an unhealthy environment in dangerous locations and involving unsafe equipment for heavy loads. Where Does Child Labour Exist? Child labour is an international dilemma that it is more common in countries whereby poverty and hunger are major issues. Every region of the world uses child labourers and it is most common in the regions of South America, Africa, Asia and India. Child labour occurs in industries including agriculture, clothes, jewellery and textile production and sporting equipment. There are 168 million children worldwide trapped in child labour. 73 million of these children are below the age of 10 years. This accounts for almost 11% of the overall child population. Of this, 100 million boys and 68 million girls are involved in child labour across the world. Approximately 60% of the population of child involved in child labour takes place in the agricultural industry. The rise of child labour started in the United States in the 1700’s and the early 1800’s when the industrial revolution began. Many families had to work, or they wouldn’t be able to survive. Why Does this Issue Exist? In countries where child labour exists, it is often due to political and social reasons including extreme poverty, hunger and political unrest, and this causes families to be desperate to feed and clothe their families. Low family income can cause child labour because the families need more money to buy food and look after their family. For other families, to cover bills, particularly large unexpected costs like medical bills, the family are forced to borrow money. They become ‘debt-bonded’ and their children are forced to have to also work to repay the debt. Girls can also face discrimination with expectations that they will work for the family, particularly in the household, rather than go to school. Other reasons include illness or death in the family. Extended illness or death in the family can result in expensive medical bills and loss of income, and because of this, families are forced to send their children to work.

The Right and Responsibilities of Children Worldwide The convention of the rights of a child is a document that provides rules and regulations to protect children from having their rights violated and to be forced into child labour.

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JSM Edition 6

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