Child labour is defined as work that has performed by children under the age of 18 which employed in unsuitable or hazardous occupation. This can harm or restrict a child’s physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual growth.[i]
Child labour legislation and laws
· Convention on the Rights of the Child
In accordance with The United Nations, there has adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UNDHR) 1948 which has posited that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”[ii]
· ILO Convention on Child Labour
International Labour Organisation has encouraged the two key instruments of international law. Firstly, ILO Convention No. 138 on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and Work. Secondly, ILO Convention 182 for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour which “helped to focus the international spotlight on the urgency of action to eliminate as a priority, Worst forms of child labour without losing the long term goal of the effective elimination of all child labour.”[iii]
Causes of Child Labour
The main cause which persuades children to the worst is poverty.[iv] Due to the fact that many poor families send their children to work for reasons of economic expediency in order to ensure income security and survival. Consequently, this contributes to block their children’s education.
Furthermore, another factor may provoke this cycle is that inadequate school facilities. It appears that schools in underdeveloped countries are often unreachable as well as inadequate teaching and classroom resources. Many poor nations do not have free compulsory education for all children, which is an obstacle to impelling working children to school.
Although, many countries have national child labour laws that define a minimum age for work and legislate working conditions, but these laws tend to be only effective in dealing child labour abuses in the formal sector in urban areas. Moreover, increasing quality and improvement to education is also a key factor to reduce child labour. It suggests that “If an education system is to attract and retain children, its quality and relevance must be improved as well. Children who attend school are less likely to be involved in hazardous or exploitative work.”
[i] The International Labor Organisation(ILO), ‘Child Labour’ <http://www.ilo.org/global/Themes/Child_Labour/lang--en/index.htm> accessed 30 October 2010
[ii] The United Nations, ‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ <http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml> accessed 2 November 2010
[iii] The International Labor Organisation(ILO) (n 1)
[iv] One world, ‘Child Labour guide’ <http://uk.oneworld.net/guides/childlabour#Laws> accessed 31 October 2010
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