Living as a child labourer

Hundreds of millions of children worldwide have forgone their childhood for work. Their efforts are far from the comfort of a classroom — instead, they slog day-in, day-out, in dangerous conditions to earn small incomes crucial to their survival.

Today, on World Day Against Child Labour, we fight the injustices faced by children globally. Since 2002, each year on 12 June, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) raises awareness for child labourers unable to share in the joys of a safe childhood.

Amie Hamling looks at what it’s like to be a child labourer and what steps are being taken around the world to prevent it.

Vietnam: A young girl working in the fields © Jean-Marie Hullot

Forced into labour

Not every child has the same start to life. The basic freedoms of our youth, such as education, health and leisure, are unknown to children forced into labour, kept as slaves, driven to prostitution and drug trafficking, and armed as soldiers.

The ILO campaigns on a specific aspect or solution to child labour each year. Past campaigns include raising awareness for children working in domestic work, agriculture, mining, and trafficking.

In 2009, education was pushed as a response to child labour, and the year after — on the 10th anniversary — the ILO made progress with their Give girls a chance campaign.

This year, the focus is on ensuring social protection for all children.

What progress has the ILO made so far?

Remarkably, the ILO estimates child labour has declined by one third since 2000. It’s a small success. There are still 168 million child labourers worldwide — that’s more than seven times the population of Australia.

The international community set a target to eradicate the worst forms of child labour by 2016. The goal will not be met within the next two years, but in order to accelerate the process, we must consider the key responses to child labour, such as social protection and education.

Child labourers at a factory in Bangladesh © Zoriah

What is social protection?

Poverty sends children into labour. Economic downturn, health problems and natural disasters cause children to drop out of school and earn money for their household, with the goal of keeping children out of work. It provides an economic safety net for families and individuals to ensure basic income security and health care.

Social protection can be delivered to those who need it through a variety of mechanisms, including unemployment benefits, pensions, child support, housing assistance, national health insurance, job-creation schemes, retraining programs and agricultural insurance.

A child labourer on a plantation in Sri Lanka © ILO

How can we use social protection to combat child labour?

The ILO aims to strengthen the family income and tackle child labour through social security systems. Children would no longer be forced to leave school and find work if household incomes were secured.

Solutions such as cash transfer programs, maternity benefits, access to health care and unemployment protection all keep children free from labour.

Financial services can prevent child labour. We need to ensure they are uniquely structured for children born into social disadvantage and vulnerabilities.

Trade unions and employers have the ability to provide social security schemes for members and their families. They must work together to formalise the informal economy as a sustainable workplace.

Child labour in Dhaka © NiH

How you can help?

Crucial in the fight against child labour is gaining the support of individual governments, civil society and educational bodies. This can be done through calling attention to the fact that millions of children around the world are still being forced to give up their childhoods to work.

One way you can help us do that is by sharing this feature with your friends and family via Facebook and Twitter.