Latest update April 7th, 2026 12:30 AM
EXAMINING CHILD LABOUR
On June 12 many countries observed World Day Against Child Labour under the theme “Generation Safe and Healthy.” It was launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.
Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives them of their childhood, dignity, prevents them from attending regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful. Poverty and lack of schools are considered as the primary cause of child labour.
Child labour is considered exploitative by many international organizations, including the United Nations. Legislation across the world has prohibited child labour, which has existed through most of history.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many children aged 5–14 from poorer families worked in agriculture, factories, home-based assembly operations, services and mining in Europe, the United States and various colonies of European powers. Some worked night shifts lasting 12 hours. With the rise of household income, availability of schools and passage of child labour laws, the incidence rates of child labour have reduced over the years.
Each year, the World Day Against Child Labour brings together governments, employers and workers’ organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labour and to eliminate it. Even though there was not much activity in Guyana on the day this year, the government has indicated it will protect the rights of children in keeping with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Achieving these goals for the benefit of the next generation of the global workforce requires a concerted and integrated approach by all countries to eliminate child labour and promote a culture of prevention.
Children who are free from the burden of child labour are able to fully realize their rights to education, leisure, and healthy development, which in turn, provide the essential foundation for their social and economic progress, poverty eradication, and human rights. Child labour experts have contended that the returns on the investment in ending child labour are incalculable.
Child labour is most prevalent in developing countries with high poverty and poor schooling opportunities.Contrary to popular beliefs, most child labourers are predominantly employed by their parents, rather than in manufacturing or the formal economy and the vast majority of child labour, about 70 percent is found in rural areas and 26 percent in informal urban centres.
According to the ILO, child labour is still common in many parts of the world. Estimates for child labour ranges between 250 and 304 million, with the highest amount in Sub-Saharan Africa and several African nations having over 50 percent of child labour aged 5 to 14 working.
The region accounts for 32 percent of child labour, followed by Asia with 22 percent, 17% in Latin America and about one percent in the US, Canada, Europe and other wealthy nations.
Worldwide, some 60 percent of child labourers are involved in agricultural activities such as farming, dairy, fisheries and forestry. Another 25 percent were in service activities such as retail, restaurants and services. The remaining 15 percent are in assembly and manufacturing in the informal economy, home-based enterprises, factories, mines, packaging and operating machinery.
Unfortunately, while statistics on child labour are not available in Guyana, a U.S. report found that a significant amount of the school population are working children, and some of the worst form of child labour do exist here, including domestic work, agriculture production and sale, commercial sexual exploitation and illicit drug trafficking. The U.S. report also found that Guyana does not have a comprehensive policy to tackle and combat child labour or target the social ills that are the root causes of child labour.
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.