Brasília – This Friday (10th), the International Labour Organization (ILO) issued a report on hazardous child labour. The figures show that 115 million children worldwide (7% of all children and adolescents) are engaged in this type of activity. According to the report, the figure represents nearly half of all child labourers (215 million). Hazardous work is defined as any type of activity that may be harmful to the child’s health and physical and psychological integrity.
The report also claims that although the total number of children aged 5 to 17 performing hazardous work dropped from 2004 to 2008, there was a 20% increase in the amount of youths between 15 and 17 years of age in these activities, which went from 52 million to 62 million.
The document states that the Asia-Pacific region has the highest number of children in hazardous work, 48.1 million. However, it is Sub-Saharan Africa that concentrates the highest rate of children in hazardous work – 38.7 million for a total population of 257 million.
In Latin America, there are 9.43 million children performing hazardous work. In other regions, such as Europe and North America, there are records of 18.9 million children engaged in this type of activity.
The survey also points out that the reduction of hazardous child labour was more pronounced among girls than boys. From 2004 to 2008 there was a 9% reduction in the number of boys in hazardous work, whereas in the same period, the number of girls dropped by 24%.
Agriculture is the sector with the highest number of child labourers, 59% of them in hazardous activities and aged 5 to 17. The sector comprises fishery, silviculture, shepherding and subsistence farming. The remainder is divided into the services sector (30%) and other activities (11%). The report also claims that at least one third of all child labourers perform household chores and do not get paid to do so.
The study also states that children and youths in hazardous work suffer more accidents than adults. The report mentions that the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work concluded that youths have a 50% higher chance to suffer an injury than adults.
The study highlights that in Brazil, between 2007 and 2009, more than 2,600 labour-related child injuries were reported. In Chile, in 2008, over 1,000 injuries were reported in youths aged 15 to 17.
To put an end to hazardous work among children and adolescents worldwide, the report advises all governments to take measures based on three pillars. The first one is that governments must ensure that children go to school until, at least, the minimum age for work. Governments must also improve the sanitary conditions near the places where the labour takes place and adopt specific measures for youths between the minimum age for work and 18.
Legal measures must also be adopted against hazardous child labour, with the collaboration of employers and employees.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
