ENSLAVED CHILDREN

CHILD LABOUR

Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful.

Legislations across the world prohibit child labour.

Before the Industrial Revolution virtually all children worked in agriculture.During the Industrial Revolution many of these children moved from farm work to factory work. Over time, as real wages rose, parents became able to afford to send their children to school instead of work and as a result child labour declined.

In developing countries, with high poverty and poor schooling opportunities, child labour is still prevalent.

Poverty and lack of schools are considered the primary causes of child labour.

ENSLAVED CHILDRENThe International Labor Organization has estimated that there are 250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen working in developing countries.

Some are kidnapped or tricked, some are even sold or allowed to work by their parents. Many of these child labourers work in sweatshops, factories, companies, farms and many other harsh working conditions.

They are paid much less than other workers, some of them are not even paid but given places to live and food to eat.

CHILD LABOUR INCIDENTSBitter ChocolateIvory Coast is the world's leading producer of cocoa, the raw ingredient for chocolate. The cocoa trade of the Ivory Coast involves exploitation of children, war, and corrupt profits by Ivorian officials and western big chocolate business.

CHILD LABOUR INCIDENTSMINING IN AFRICAIn west Africa, in countries such as Mali children work in artisanal mining.Children as young as 6 years old work with their families. These children and families suffer chronic exposure to toxic chemicals including mercury.

CHILD LABOUR INCIDENTSGAPIn 2007 some GAP products had been produced by child labourers. After that discovery, GAP created a $200,000 grant to improve working conditions in the supplier community.

CHILD LABOUR INCIDENTSH&M and ZARASome NGOs accused H&M and Zara of using cotton suppliers in Bangladesh. It is also suspected that many of their raw materials originate from Uzbekistan.

COTTON INDUSTRY IN UZBEKISTANHere, children aged 10 are forced to work in the fields.

ELIMINATING CHILD LABOURIn poor countries like Bangladesh, working children are essential for survival in many families.Ending child labour is necessary but, sadly, requires taking different routes and there are many political obstacles.

Bangladesh Garment Industry

Corruption, greed and the disregard for building standards led to the Rana Plaza tragedy with 1,127 people killed. But the fact is the majority of Bangladeshi garment factories offer reasonable working standards.

In a way, Bangladesh’s garment industry is a success story by empowering women and offering people without education comparatively clean and secure jobs. The alternative? A job as a day labourer, a rickshaw puller or on the fields for half the money.