Combatting Child Labor

• Working in mines (2)
• Working with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture (2)
• Working with dangerous machinery (2)

• Forced and bonded labor (5.7 million)
• Armed conflict (0.25 million)
• Sexual exploitation and child pornography (2 million)
• Illicit activities (0.6 million)

Questions About Child Labor Where Does It Occur? Who Are the Most Vulnerable? What Are the Causes? What Is the Impact? What Is World Vision Doing? What Can You Do?

Around the world, at least 18 percent of children, ages 5 to 14, work full-time, whereas 16.7 percent of children work part-time, attempting to get limited education. (4) At least 1.2 million children are trafficked annually for child labor and sexual exploitation. (2)

Where Does It Occur?

• 122.3 million child workers (ages 5 to 14) in the Asia Pacific region
• 49.3 million child workers (ages 5 to 14) in sub-Saharan Africa
• 5.7 million child workers (ages 5 to 14) in Latin America and the Caribbean

Who Are The Most Vulnerable?

The poorest are extremely vulnerable. Children are less aware of their rights, and they accept repetitive and hazardous work willingly because they are more obedient and may not have other options.

What Are the Causes?

Child labor is a result of unjust systems and structures within a society.
Some of the causes are:

Poverty and gross inequality Unjust income distribution or land distribution Political instability Discrimination Migration Crime and failure to enforce the law Traditional cultural practices Employer’s desire for cheap and flexible labor

Gender inequity Adult unemployment Inadequate social protection Poor and inadequate education Desire for consumer goods Crisis situations like national disasters and economic recession HIV and AIDS Armed conflict

Melse, 7, was trafficked from his hometown in Chencha, Ethiopia, three years ago. He and 20 other children work in a tiny room in Addis Ababa as weavers; they receive no wages, just food for their hard labor that is not enough to keep them healthy. Melse's five siblings were also trafficked, but he does not know where they are. [(c) January 2007/Heidi Shaker/World Vision]

What Is the Impact? Loss of the child’s education and future opportunities Loss of basic and fundamental human rights Lifelong physical or psychological damage to child Perpetuates the cycle of poverty in the life of the child Lack of education and vocational skills potentially depresses national economic development What Is World Vision Doing? World Vision’s experience working in countries around the world amongst marginalized people has revealed that children will continue to work unless there are sufficient alternatives.

World Vision supports a sustainable, comprehensive approach, which incorporates prevention, removal and rehabilitation. Our programs strive to prevent child labor by:

• Working with parents to improve the family's income, so they don't have to send children out to work
• Supporting the education system to keep children in school by providing school supplies, teacher training, and facility improvements
• Providing scholarships for poorer children, enabling them to stay in school
• Raising awareness in communities regarding the importance of education

• Persuading formal sector employers to improve conditions and shorten hours
• Providing educational and skills training opportunities
• Coordinating with other agencies for family tracing and reunification

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