About
Child Labor The Issue C h il d l a b o r is any work done by children that is exploitative—takes advantage of them, is hazardous, keeps them from getting an education, or is harmful to their health or to their physical, mental, spiritual, or social development.
Child laborers work in a variety of jobs. They are employed as domestic workers in homes, as laborers on farms, or as workers in industries such as garment-making or fireworks factories. They may create their own employment by performing tasks such as shoe shining, picking up garbage on rubbish dumps, or hawking goods. In many cases, they are forced or coerced into pornography or prostitution. In conflict situations, children may be voluntarily or forcibly recruited to join armed groups. Most child laborers are in the informal economic sector where they are not protected by laws and regulations. Some work carried out by children and young people is not considered child labor, e.g., helping with appropriate tasks on the family farm after school, assisting with chores around the house, or engaging in paid part-time employment. Such child work can be a valuable way for children to learn new skills, such as developing responsibility, learning how to manage money, and experiencing the work environment in preparation for future employment and participation in society.
The Facts W o r l dw ide , there are an estimated 218 million child laborers, ages 5 to 17. Some 126 million
of these children work in hazardous conditions such as the following: » Working in mines » Working with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture » Working with dangerous machinery These forms of labor are likely to have adverse effects on a child’s safety, health, and moral development.
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B a s e d o n t he I nt er nat io na l La b o r Or ga niz at io n’s definition, some of the
worst forms of child labor are the following: » Forced and bonded labor » Armed conflict » Sexual exploitation and child pornography » Illicit activities Around the world, at least 18 percent of children ages 5 to 14 work full time; an estimated 16.7 percent of children work part time, attempting to get limited education. At least 1.2 million children annually are trafficked for child labor and sexual exploitation. C h il d l a b o r can be found in almost every country. It is estimated that there are at least:
» 122.3 million child workers (ages 5 to 14) in the Asia Pacific region » 49.3 million child workers (ages 5 to 14) in sub-Saharan Africa » 5.7 million child workers (ages 5 to 14) in Latin America and the Caribbean C h il d l a b o r is a result of unjust systems and structures within a society. Causes include:
» Poverty and gross inequality » Gender inequity » Adult unemployment » Inadequate social protection » Poor and inadequate education » Desire for consumer goods » Crisis situations like national disasters and economic recession » HIV and AIDS
» Armed conflict » Poverty and gross inequality » Unjust income distribution or land distribution » Political instability » Discrimination » Migration » Crime and failure to enforce the law » Traditional cultural practices » Employers’ desire for cheap and flexible labor
P o v e rt y, bo t h i n t he ho me a nd at a nat io na l lev el, is the major cause of
child labor. The International Labor Organization points to a strong correlation between income levels and child labor across countries, with the poorest countries registering the highest rates of child labor. Children work because they are too poor not to. Many need to supplement their family’s meager incomes. An increasing number of children orphaned by HIV and AIDS and other causes means many more children are heads of households in which children need to work simply to survive. Children who have lost contact with their family or have been abandoned (including street children) work to support themselves. Child labor is not only a consequence of poverty. It is also a cause. If children are prevented from going to school due to child labor, they will remain illiterate. This means that as adults they will not find well-paid jobs and their own children may be forced to work. Child labor can also drive down the wages and working conditions of adult workers, making it more likely that children will need to work to supplement their family’s income. Acc e s s t o e duc at io n affects the incidence of child labor. In some areas, there is
a shortage of adequate schools or teachers available to run classes, denying children an education and therefore encouraging them to seek work. Even where schooling is available, it PA G E 2 O F 4
may be costly. If families cannot afford to send some of their children to school, the children may accompany parents to their workplace rather than being left alone at home. They may also work to earn money so that their siblings can attend school. Where schools are poorly resourced or teachers not properly trained, classes can be irrelevant to children, meaning they may prefer to work rather than attend school. Worldwide, 125 million children do not attend primary school and another 150 million drop out before they have completed the fourth grade. Two-thirds of children who are not in school are girls, making them especially vulnerable to child labor. Girls in particular are often burdened by work within their own households as they perform burdensome chores and care for the rest of their family without pay or recognition. Some employers are prepared to take on children as workers for various reasons. Children are often cheaper to employ than adults, and they are easier to exploit because they are often not aware of their rights or are unable to stand up to adults. They can be easily tricked or coerced into dangerous or exploitative work. C o n s um e r s f r o m indust r ia liz ed co unt r ies like the United States contribute
to child labor through their consumption patterns. They choose cheaper products without really questioning how these products can afford to be so cheap. This buyer demand encourages companies and suppliers to continue with business practices that allow child labor to be used. Consumers need to be prepared to pay higher prices if they want to live in a fairer world. Some socially responsible companies are taking action to stop child labor from being used to manufacture their products. Others are making changes because of pressure from consumers and child labor campaigners. They know if they don’t there could be negative economic repercussions.
What You Can Do » Pray for children around the world who are being harmed by child labor. Pray for people trying to help these children; pray for a transformation of those who are forcing children into these roles. » Become a Children in Crisis Partner. For $20 a month, you can help one child escape a life of horror. Go to www.worldvision.org for more information. » The Department of Labor is compiling a list fo goods from foreign countries that are believed to be produced with forced or child labor. For more information, go to www.dol.gov. » Sponsor a child. Paying for education and other expenses is a good way to keep children out of the workforce. For sponsorship information go to www.worldvision.org.
(Sources: Facts on Child Labor and End of Child Labor Within Reach, International Labor Organization, 2006; State of the World’s Children 2006, UNICEF; Every Child Counts: New Global Estimates on Child Labor, April 2002, p. 41 and summary of highlights; International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor.) Copyright © 2009 by World Vision Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716, 253815-3320, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved.
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About World Vision W o rld V i s i o n i s a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to helping children and their families break free from poverty. Our work is motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring nearly 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. W o rld V i s i o n R es o u r c e s educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to social justice, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world. By developing biblically based materials for educators and ministry leaders on the causes and consequences of global poverty, World Vision Resources supports the organizational mandate to move the church in the United States to more fully embrace its biblical responsibility to serve the poor.
For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources www.worldvision.org wvresources@worldvision.org
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