About child labour

160 Million children are occupied in child labour worldwide

What is child labour?

Child labour is a global issue that prevents children from fulfilling their potential. Child labour is a violation of children’s rights – the work can harm them mentally or physically, expose them to hazardous situations or stop them from going to school.

Not all work done by children is classed as child labour. There is not an issue when a child is working to progress their life skills without compromising their health, their well-being or their education. Often older children may do chores for their parents or small jobs to earn pocket money or gain work experience. This work prepares them for their adult working life.

The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that:

– Is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or – Interferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

The definitions and criteria outlined by international organizations, such as the International Labour Organization (ILO), help categorize and regulate child labour. Their fundamental conventions, particularly Convention No. 138 and Convention No. 182, provide a framework for addressing and eliminating harmful forms of child labour.

Here are some key points about these conventions:

Minimum Age Convention (No. 138): This convention sets a minimum age for admission to employment and seeks to ensure that children are protected from work that could be detrimental to their health or education.
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182): This convention focuses on eliminating the worst forms of child labour, such as forced labour, trafficking, and work that is harmful to children’s health or development.

The universal ratification of Convention No. 182 in 2020 reflects a global commitment to combat child labour and protect children’s rights. Efforts continue to address the underlying causes of child labour, including poverty, lack of education, and insufficient legal protections. Ongoing advocacy is crucial to ensure that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

History of Child Labour

Throughout history, children have contributed to the economic upkeep of their families through farm labour and handicrafts. However, the growth of manufacturing and farm mechanization during the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries led to many children working under dangerous conditions in factories and farms.

In the Victorian era, child labour notoriously became fatal and hazardous with children as young as four years working in industrial factories. They were expected to crawl through tunnels that were too narrow for adults in coal mines, endangering their lives. The working hours were long ranging between 52 to 80 hours while their wages were very low, 10-20% of an adult male’s pay. Several children also worked as prostitutes.

This in turn prompted laws that not only regulated conditions for kids working but also mandated education. Through the years:

1938: The U.S. Fair Labour Standards Act restricts hours and types of jobs for children under age 16.

1973: The Minimum Age Convention, ratified by 172 countries, sets the minimum age for employment but allows some exceptions.

1989: The U.N. enacts the Convention on the Rights of the Child to guarantee the protection of children’s rights to grow and thrive.

1992: The International Program on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) is founded to promote the global elimination of child labour and support countries in their efforts.

1999: The Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, ratified by 186 countries, requires ending practices like slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, forced labour in armed conflict, prostitution, pornography, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities.

2021: The U.N. General Assembly declares this to be the Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.

2025: International commitment is set to end all forms of child labour this year under Target 8.7 of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Statistics

160 million children worldwide are engaged in child labour.
79 million are involved in hazardous work.
70% of child labour occurs in agriculture, followed by services (20%) and industry (10%).

Bangladesh Statistics

3.45 million children (ages 5-17) are in child labour.
1.28 million are engaged in hazardous work.
The agriculture sector employs the majority of working children in Bangladesh.

The worst forms of child labour

The worst forms of child labour involves children being enslaved, separated from their families, exposed to serious hazards and illnesses and/or left to fend for themselves on the streets of large cities – often at a very early age.

Whilst child labour takes many different forms, a priority is to eliminate without delay the worst forms of child labour as defined by Article 3 of ILO Convention No. 182 :

all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict;
the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances;
the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties;
work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.

Hazardous child labour

Hazardous child labour or hazardous work is the work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.

Guidance for governments on some hazardous work activities which should be prohibited is given by Article 3 of ILO Recommendation No. 190 :

work which exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse;
work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces;
work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads;
work in an unhealthy environment which may, for example, expose children to hazardous substances, agents or processes, or to temperatures, noise levels, or vibrations damaging to their health;
work under particularly difficult conditions such as work for long hours or during the night or work where the child is unreasonably confined to the premises of the employer.

The Special Representative is committed to mobilizing and supporting Member States in taking stronger action to ending child labour.

“Child labor and poverty are inevitably bound together and if you continue to use the labor of children as the treatment for the social disease of poverty, you will have both poverty and child labor to the end of time.”

— Grace Abbott

International Labour standards

One of the major aims set for the International Labour Organization (ILO) at its founding in 1919 was the abolition of child labour. Historically, the ILO’s principal tool in pursuing the goal of effective abolition of child labour has been the adoption and supervision of labour standards that embody the concept of a minimum age for admission to employment or work. Furthermore, from 1919 onwards the principle that minimum age standards should be linked to schooling has been part of the ILO’s tradition in standard setting in this area. Convention No. 138 provides that the minimum age for admission to employment shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling.

The ILO’s adoption of Convention No. 182 in 1999 consolidated the global consensus on child labour elimination. It provided much-needed focus without abandoning the overarching goal, expressed in Convention No. 138, of the effective abolition of child labour. Moreover, the concept of the worst forms helps set priorities and can be used as an entry point in tackling the mainstream child labour problem. The concept also helps to direct attention to the impact of work on children, as well as the work they perform.

Child labour that is proscribed under international law falls into three categories:

The unconditional worst forms of child labour, which are internationally defined as slavery, trafficking, debt bondage and other forms of forced labour, forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, prostitution and pornography, and illicit activities.
Labour performed by a child who is under the minimum age specified for that kind of work (as defined by national legislation, in accordance with accepted international standards), and that is thus likely to impede the child’s education and full development.
Labour that jeopardizes the physical, mental or moral well-being of a child, either because of its nature or because of the conditions in which it is carried out, known as “hazardous work”.

National Labour Standard

Bangladesh has implemented several standards and policies aimed at the elimination of child labor. These initiatives reflect a commitment to protecting children’s rights and promoting their well-being. Key components include:

National Child Labor Elimination Policy (NCLEP) 2010:
- This policy serves as a comprehensive framework to eliminate child labor in Bangladesh. It focuses on the protection of children’s rights, access to education, and the provision of social and economic support to families.
Legislation:
- The Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006: This act prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 in hazardous work and provides regulations for adolescent workers (ages 14-18).
- The Child Act, 2013: This act defines child rights and protections, aligning with international conventions on children’s rights, and prohibits all forms of child labor.
International Commitments:
- Bangladesh is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the ILO Conventions (No. 138 on minimum age and No. 182 on the worst forms of child labor), committing to uphold international standards for child protection.

Child Labour prevelance

Child labor prevalence rates vary significantly by continent due to differences in economic conditions, cultural practices, and government policies. Here’s a general overview of child labor prevalence by continent:

Africa

Africa has the highest rates of child labor, with millions of children engaged in work, especially in agriculture, mining, and domestic services. Estimates suggest that over 20% of children in several countries are involved in child labor.

Asia

Asia also has a significant number of child laborers, particularly in South Asia (countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). The rates vary greatly, with some regions exceeding 10% of children in labor situations.

Latin America

In Latin America, child labor rates are lower than in Africa and Asia, with estimates ranging from 5% to 10% in certain areas. The prevalence is often associated with poverty and informal employment.

Europe

Child labor is less prevalent in Europe, largely due to stricter laws and regulations protecting children’s rights. Rates are typically below 5%, but issues can still arise in certain sectors like agricultural labor or migrant communities.

North America

Child labor is extremely rare in North America due to strong labor laws and child protection policies. Instances may occur in agriculture or informal work, but overall prevalence is below 1%.

Oceania

Similarly, child labor is quite rare in Australia and New Zealand, with very low rates of child labor reported. However, some developing island nations may have higher rates due to economic challenges.

Where is child labour on the rise?

Global progress against child labour has recently stagnated: The proportion of children in child labour remained roughly unchanged since data were collected in 2016. Similarly, the percentage of children in hazardous work has also persisted.

However, global estimates mask large variations across regions. In both Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, child labour has trended downward in percentage and absolute terms. Conversely, sub-Saharan Africa has seen an increase in the number and share of children engaged in child labour. Nearly 87 million children in sub-Saharan Africa are in some form of child labour – more than the rest of the world combined.

Are boys and girls subjected to different kinds of child labour?

Globally, involvement in child labour is more common for boys than girls across all age groups:

Boys are more prone to work in construction, mining, and manufacturing.
Girls in child labour are more likely to be engaged in services, including domestic work.

According to the latest data (early 2020):

Roughly 63 million girls and 97 million boys are in child labour worldwide.
The gender gap grows with age: boys are about twice as likely as girls to be in child labour by their mid-teens (15 to 17 years old).

It’s important to note that the definition of child labour does not include household chores in children’s own homes. When child labour is expanded to include household chores for 21 hours or more each week, the gender gap shrinks by almost half.

What forms of child labour are most common?

Agriculture: Around 70% of children engaged in child labour work on farms or in agricultural activities, many of whom are very young.
Family-based labour: Approximately 72% of child labour occurs within the family unit, primarily on family farms or small family enterprises. While family-based environments are often perceived as safer, they are frequently hazardous to a child’s health, safety, or moral development.

What are the greatest risks associated with child labour?

Child labour, no matter where or how it occurs, restricts children’s fundamental rights. Many children driven into labour are cut off from schooling and healthcare – often at a critical time in their development. Examples of risks include:

Agriculture: Exposure to dangerous chemicals, machinery, and extreme weather conditions.
Mining: Working in underground shafts, hauling heavy loads, and using toxic chemicals to separate minerals.
Fisheries: Long periods at sea under severe weather, away from families.
Street Work: Exposure to traffic, fumes, and the risk of illicit activities.

Additionally, the isolated nature of certain forms of child labour often puts children at greater risk of abuse and trafficking.

Is the world on track to eliminate child labour?

The world is not yet on track to eliminate child labour. Without accelerated action, an estimated 125 million children will still be in child labour by 2030 – the global deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Additionally, the isolated nature of certain forms of child labour often puts children at greater risk of abuse and trafficking.

The Fight Against Child Labour

According to the ILO, nearly 152 million children worldwide were in child labour in 2018. Despite aid from organizations like UNHCR, many children still work to support their families. In Madagascar, the ILO launched a program to help child workers access training and change their lives.

Causes of Child Labour both globally and Bangladesh

Child labor is a complex issue influenced by various factors, both globally and specifically in Bangladesh. Here are some key causes:

Global Causes of Child Labour

Poverty: Families in low-income situations often rely on their children’s incomes for survival.
Lack of Education: Limited access to quality education leads to children working instead of attending school.
Cultural Norms: In some communities, work is considered a rite of passage or a way to contribute to family support.
Economic Exploitation: Employers may prefer hiring children because they can pay them less than adults.
Conflict and Displacement: War and natural disasters can force families to resort to child labor for survival.
Weak Legal Protections: Countries with insufficient enforcement of labor laws may see higher levels of child labour.

Local Causes of Child Labour

Poverty: Over 20% of Bangladesh’s population lives below the poverty line, making child labor a necessity for many families’ income.
Educational Barriers: Although there are free primary education programs, many children still do not receive an education due to costs, distance, or insufficient quality of schools.
Labor Demand: Industries such as textiles and agriculture often employ children because they can be paid lower wages and are less likely to demand better working conditions.
Family Pressure: In many cases, large families require multiple incomes, leading to children entering the workforce early.
Limited Enforcement of Laws: Despite legislation against child labor, enforcement is often weak, allowing it to persist.
Cultural Acceptance: In some regions, child labor is culturally accepted, and communities may view it as necessary or beneficial.

What Bangladesh Labour Foundation does to eliminate child labour?

The Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) plays a critical role in combating child labor, focusing on creating a safe, equitable, and child labor-free environment in Bangladesh. To eliminate child labour we take both sector and area based approach in different areas and sectors in Bangladesh.

Awareness Campaigns

Community Engagement: BLF organizes awareness programs in vulnerable communities to educate families about the negative impact of child labor on children’s health, education, and overall well-being.
Workshops and Seminars: It conducts events to inform stakeholders, including employers, workers, and policymakers, about the importance of eliminating child labor and adhering to labor laws.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

Legislation Support: BLF advocates for stricter enforcement of laws like the Bangladesh Labour Act and international conventions such as ILO Convention 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour) and 138 (Minimum Age for Employment).
Government Collaboration: It works with government bodies to strengthen national policies and create actionable frameworks for eliminating child labor.

Rescue and Rehabilitation

Child-Friendly Spaces: BLF establishes shelters and learning centers to support rescued child laborers, offering them a safe environment to heal and grow.
Education Programs: BLF helps reintegrate children into formal education systems or vocational training programs, ensuring they have better opportunities for the future.

Research and Monitoring

Data Collection: The foundation conducts studies to understand the extent of child labor and identify high-risk industries, such as garment manufacturing, agriculture, and domestic work.
Monitoring Mechanisms: BLF helps develop mechanisms to monitor workplaces and ensure compliance with child labor laws.

Partnerships

Local and International Collaboration: BLF collaborates with local NGOs, international organizations, and labor unions to strengthen its efforts against child labor.
Support for Families: It provides economic support or alternative income-generation training to families to reduce their dependency on child labor.

Skill Development for At-Risk Youth

BLF runs vocational training and skills development programs aimed at older children or adolescents to prepare them for lawful and decent work opportunities.

By tackling the issue of child labor through a multifaceted approach, the BLF aims to create systemic changes and ensure children’s rights are protected, aligning its efforts with global standards and Bangladesh’s national goals.