Child labor is understood to be any activity carried out by a child under threat and on a non-voluntary basis. Many of them are forced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or due to a debt from their parents, the hijacking of identity documents or threats of reporting to the immigration authorities.
160 million children are currently believed to be victims of child labor. Almost half (80 million) are trapped in the worst forms of this activity, such as slavery, trafficking, forced labor or conscription for armed conflict.
Victims of child labor are everywhere, but they are not visible; they are found as domestic servants in houses, or behind the walls of workshops or are out of public view on plantations.
UNICEF specifies that children can work, as long as their participation in work – an economic activity – does not negatively affect their health and development or interfere with their education. ILO Convention No. 138 allows any type of light work (that does not interfere with education) from the age of 12.
What are the child labor statistics?
Today, the report Child Labor: Global Estimates 2020, Trends and the Way Forward, explains that progress to eradicate child labor has stalled for the first time in 20 years, and the decline in cases that existed in previous years today is now has invested.
The effects of COVID-19 have been triggers for the expansion of child labor, situations of poverty in families and educational deficiencies have generated an increase in the number of children who must work, increasing to 160 million worldwide.
How do we change this reality?
Given the current situation, the challenges are greater and involve a commitment from the whole of society, we cannot eradicate child labor without becoming aware of how this affects future generations. Some points that are proposed are the ideals so that child labor does not exist, but it depends on each one of us.
- Drastic reduction of poverty.
- Access to quality and permanent education.
- Give employment according to the adults responsible for the children.
- End the social norms that legitimize child labor.
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