Child workers

- Child labor
- It may be surprising, but child labor affects 1 in every 7 children on the planet. Millions of these children work under very dangerous conditions.

Child workers
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A tragedy

More than half of the World’s 200 million working children are working under hazardous conditions. Behind every single number is a child denied the right to a childhood - and a normal healthy life.

Producing our everyday products

Most child workers work on farms that produce cocoa, coffee, cotton, rubber, tea, tobacco and other crops. Studies in Brazil, Kenya, and Mexico have shown that children under 15 make up 25-30 percent of the total labor-force in those commodities.

Children in industrial production

About 20 million child workers worldwide are employed in industrial production. Girls and boys produce a range of goods including garments, carpets, toys, matches, brassware, footballs, fireworks, and hand-rolled cigarettes.

The end of child labor is within reach

The number of child workers is decreasing, but the rate by which it is happening is slowing. A strong and sustained global movement is needed to provide the extra push towards eliminating child labour.

What you can do

Fair trade products are produced without the use of child labor.

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Sources
Child workers
Figures for child labor is calculated by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Their estimates are based on various data sources, i.e. national surveys on child labor (SIMPOC), the World Bank’s “Living Standards Measurements Study” (LSMS) surveys, the “Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys” (MICS) done by UNICEF, as well as other survey data. The most recent ILO estimate puts the number of child workers at 215 million in 2008 (down from 222 million in 2004). The figure above is a rough extension of the ILO estimate; assuming that the trend (3 percent in 4 years) continues in the same fashion. Unfortunately, there are signs that the rate of decline has been slowing. From 2000 to 2004, for example, the ILO found that the number of child workers fell from 245 to 222 million (9 percent). UNICEF defines child labor as work that exceeds a minimum number of hours, depending on the age of a child and on the type of work. The work is considered harmful to the child and should be eliminated. According to UNICEF a child worker is a child who is aged: - 5-11 and works at least 1 hour in economic work, or 28 hours in domestic work per week. - 12-14 and works at least 14 hours in economic work, or 28 hours in domestic work per week. - 15-17 and works at least 43 hours in economic or domestic work per week.
1. A tragedy
  - ILO report: Accelerating Action Against Child Labor
  - Stop Child Slavery
2. Producing our everyday products
3. Children in industrial production
  - ILO report: Give girls a chance
4. The end of child labor is within reach
  - ILO report: The end of child labor - within reach
5. What you can do
  - Aims of Fairtrade standards

Content

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