Child labour is typically defined as children performing a job that harms or exploits them in some way: physically, mentally, morally, or by blocking access to education. However, this definition is not universally accepted. Varying definitions of the term are used by international organizations, non-governmental organizations, trade unions and other interest groups. For example, international conventions define children as those aged 18 and under, but individual governments may define a "child" according to different ages or other criteria.
Countries not only have different minimum age restrictions, but also have varying regulations based on the type of labour. This makes the limits on
child labour very ambiguous. Most people would agree that a six year old is too young to work, but whether the same can be said about a twelve year old is debatable.
(adapted from Child Labor and the Global Village,
What is "Child labor"?, visited 2009-05-28)
Generally speaking,
child labour can be classified under three categories:
- Young people under the age of 18
- Children under the age of 15 or still participating in full-time compulsory education
- Teenagers between the age of 15 and 18 who no longer participate in full-time compulsory education
(adapted from European Industrial Relations Dictionary (EUROFOUND),
Child labour, 2007, visited 2009-05-28)
Working children are often victims of extreme exploitation, toiling long hours for minimal pay. Their working conditions are especially severe, and do not provide the necessary stimulation for proper physical and mental development. Many
working children endure lives of pure deprivation. However, the intuitive solution of immediately abolishing
child labour to prevent such abuse is not necessarily without repercussions. First, there is no international agreement defining
child labour, making it hard to isolate cases of abuse, let alone abolish them. Second, many children may have to work in order to attend school, in which case the abolition of
child labour would only hinder their education. Until there is global agreement that can isolate cases of
child labour, it will be very difficult to abolish. The problem is, then, not
child labour itself, but the social context surrounding it.
Child labour is a pervasive problem throughout the world, especially in developing countries. Africa and Asia together account for over 90 per cent of total
child employment.
Child labour is especially prevalent in rural areas where the capacity to enforce minimum age requirements for schooling and work is lacking. In addition, since legislation has been able to control
child labour in the formal sector to some degree,
child labour is most prevalent in highly unmonitored, informal and rural sectors.
(adapted from
World Bank, visited 2006-09-06)
Estimating the exact number of children employed worldwide is difficult. As the ILO pointed out in 1996, many countries do not keep figures, and the statistics of those that do are partial at best. For example, most surveys only include children aged 10 and over, despite the fact that millions of children under this age are employed. In addition, they only include children for whom work is the principal activity, ignoring those who combine employment with school. Yet, part-time work and "out of school" work are a significant source of employment for children across the globe.
(adapted from Child Labor and the Global Village,
What is "Child labor"?, visited 2009-05-28)
Global estimates of
child labour are, therefore, likely to underestimate its overall level, and the statistical analyses provided by international bodies and NGOs need to be interpreted with caution. For instance, in 1995, the ILO estimated that some 73 million children aged between 10 and 14 were working worldwide. However, these figures were based on a limited survey of 100 nations, and China (with a substantial
child labour problem) and other industrialized countries were not included. Paid work performed by children under the age of 10 was not considered, nor were children engaged in various forms of home working.UNICEF estimated (1997) that if these last two groups were taken into account, the figure could have been as high as 400 million.
(Munck, R.,
Labour and Globalisation: Results and Prospects, Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2004)
Children work for a variety of reasons and poverty is widely considered to be the main reason. Other reasons include family expectations and traditions, lack of educational alternatives and day care, lack of other services, such as health care, public opinion downplaying the risk of early work for children, and limited choices for women.
(adapted from Child Labor and the Global Village,
What is "Child labor"?, visited 2009-05-28)
