“Being safe is something that many of us take for granted. Yet sadly, millions of children around the world are in danger of child labor, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.”

What do we consider about child labor? It can be perceived as any work or task that strips children of their self-esteem, their potentiality, their childhood, also having adverse effects on the intellectual and physical development of children. The World Day against Child Labor is on “12 June” globally.

There are many factors that give rise to Child Labor in a society. These factors involve racial practices, poverty, demand, educational barriers, and poor implementation of laws against this. The consequences are deprivation of children’s right to education, and exposure to violence. It also causes intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Victims of child labor include 152 million children worldwide. Out of which 64 million are girls and 88 million are boys.

Some worldwide facts regarding child labor are here:

  • 48% of the victims fall under the age group of 5 to 11 years.
  • About 50% of the victims (approx. 73 M) are employed in unsafe and risky surroundings and conditions and almost one-fourth of precarious child labor (19 M) is performed by youngsters under the age of 12.
  • 41% (62.1 M) is in Asia and the Pacific while a greater ratio is in Africa (72.1 M).
  • Earlier child workers are much more seemingly to have only elementary education or less.
  • Around 71% of child workers are in the sector of agriculture that involves forestry, livestock herding, aquaculture, and fishing.
  • The ratio of girls being victims of child labor may be more than visible on surveys and statistics due to under-reported forms of child labor in the form of domestic services in private residences. Girls are also more likely to take on the responsibilities for housework; a kind of labor not included in the criteria of exploitation of minors.  
  • About 150 billion dollars is generated in illegal profits annually through forced labor.
  • About 2 out of 3 children (69.1 %) work as contributing family workers on family farms and family enterprises. They are not in any work related to any third-party employer.
  • Factors like family circumstances and other financial issues force children to quit their schools before their fifteenth birthday. It makes it difficult and near to impossible to get employment. And those who do so take quite a long time period.

Harassment:

Child labor victims, especially girls, also spoke out about being a victim of sexual harassment and abuse while on work. Which includes being touched inappropriately or propositioned by staff and customers in their workplaces.

A boy working as a waste collector in Indonesia shared that he felt ashamed when his friend asked him to open his pants and touched him in his private area.

How can we stop this?

We can take part in creating a protective surrounding. That supports and cares for all the young generations, by taking the following initiatives:

  • Extending educational services to provide all the children with quality education and an improved learning environment.
  • Extending financial aid to parents including proving higher salaries and food security. So that their children would not need to support their family financially.
  • Promoting international and state policies and laws against child labor and assisting in their enforcement.
  • Extending support to promote social responsibility for businesses, communities, and governments to fight against child labor.
  • Providing employment opportunities to youth above the age of minorities through entrepreneurship, training, and life skills, as well as financial facilities including savings and credit services.