Dear Editor,

Throughout the world, around 218 million children work, many full-time.

They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care, and are denied the chance to be children. More than half of them are exposed to the worst forms of child labour, such as work in hazardous environments; slavery or other forms of forced labour; illicit activities, including drug trafficking and prostitution; as well as involvement in armed conflict.

However, not all work done by children should be classified as child labour. Participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling is generally regarded as being positive. This includes activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisting in a family business, or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to children’s development and the welfare of their families; they provide them with skills and experience, and help to prepare them to be productive members of society.

Child labour is work carried out to the detriment and endangerment of a child in violation of international law and national legislation. It either deprives children of schooling or requires them to assume the dual burden of schooling and work. The UN states that since 2000, for nearly two decades, the world had been making steady progress in reducing child labour. But over the past few years, conflicts, crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic have plunged more families into poverty and forced millions more children into child labour. Economic growth has not been sufficient or inclusive enough to relieve the pressure that too many families and communities feel, which results in them resorting to child labour.

Africa ranks highest among regions, both in the percentage of children involved in child labour, one-fifth, and the absolute number of children involved in child labour, 72 million. Asia and the Pacific ranks second highest in both these measures: 7 per cent of all children and 62 million in absolute terms are in child labour in this region. Africa and the Asia and Pacific regions together account for almost nine out of every 10 children in child labour worldwide. The remaining child labour population is divided among the Americas (11 million), Europe and Central Asia (6 million), and the Arab States (1 million). In terms of incidence, 5 per cent of children are involved in child labour in the Americas, 4 per cent in Europe and Central Asia, and 3 per cent in the Arab States.

While the percentage involved in child labour is highest in low-income countries, the number is actually greater in middle-income countries. Nine per cent of all children in lower middle-income countries and 7 per cent of all children in upper middle-income countries are involved in child labour. Statistics on the absolute number of children involved in child labour in each national income grouping indicate that 84 million children are child labourers.

This scenario clearly speaks to child neglect and/or abandonment. Children should be allowed to live out their childhood and not be burdened with financing a household. Unfortunately, the education system is ill-equipped to monitor students’ activities outside the classroom, and sadly, we are no longer our brother’s keeper so it is easy to conceal the many instances of child labour.

Approximately 38,000 youth between the ages of five and 17 are involved in child labour in Jamaica, according to the latest International Labour Organization (ILO) report. Of this number, about 13,000 fetch water or collect firewood, constituting an argument for accelerated efforts to reach universal water and electricity coverage.

Boys are more likely to be involved in child labour than girls. There is a 4 percentage point difference between boys and girls for the overall 5–17 age group. The difference in child labour involvement between rural and urban children is also significant: The rate of child labour in rural areas (8 per cent) is twice that in urban areas (4 per cent). In fact, there are many individuals who believe that this number is rather conservative.

There are instances in which students stop attending school in order to join the workforce for a while. The Child Care and Protection Act criminalises child labour. Under the Act, a person is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. The harsh economic realities in Jamaica sometimes forces older children to work so that their younger siblings can have food on the table.

A 2021 ILO and UNICEF report estimates that 8.2 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 years of age are engaged in child labour in Latin America and the Caribbean. Most of these children are male adolescents, with 33 per cent being girls. Child labour is present in both rural and urban areas, with about 48.7 per cent being in the agriculture sector. Just under 50 per cent of those engaged in child labour work with their families, while over 50 per cent are engaged in hazardous work, meaning it is dangerous to their health, education, and well-being.

Governments should be held accountable for upholding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) they adopted in 2015, which included a renewed global commitment to ending child labour.

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com