Why does child labour happen? Here are some of the root causes (2024)

Children are most often involved in child labour because their parents or guardians consider it ‘normal’ for children to work, and sometimes for children’s own survival and that of their families. When talking about child labour, it is important to understand it from the perspective of the children, families and communities themselves. Below are some of the root causes which make children particularly vulnerable to child labour.

Poverty

‘Poverty is certainly the greatest single force driving children into the workplace.’ When families cannot afford to meet their basic needs like food, water, education or health care, they have no choice but to send their children to work to supplement the household income. Poverty is considered as one of the most important causes of child labour as it is linked to other driving factors including: low literarcy and numeracy rates, lack of decent work opportunities, natural disasters and climate change, conflicts and mass displacement. Poverty and child labour form a vicious cycle, without tackling one, we cannot eradicate the other.

Lack of access to quality education

‘The availability and quality of schooling is among the most important factors.’School needs to be a welcoming environment, with appropriate class sizes, a curriculum designed for the local context, and affordable for rural communities. Getting children into school and out of harmful work is one thing but keeping them there a means creating quality education accessible for all.

Poor access to decent work

‘Children who were involved in child labour often lack the basic educational grounding which would enable them to acquire skills and to improve their prospects for a decent adult working life.’If young people cannot access work which is safe, with social protection, fair pay, equality for men and women and which provides a space for workers to express their opinions, they often have no choice but to do work which is hazardous. When children above the minimum working age are doing hazardous work, this is also considered child labour.

Limited understanding of child labour

‘The view that work is good for the character-building and skill development of children.’When families do not understand the dangers of child labour, and how these impact on the health, safety, well-being and future of their child, they are more likely to send their children to work. Some cultural beliefs and social norms can also be drivers of child labour.

Natural disasters & climate change

‘In rural areas, farmers who see their crops destroyed on account of climate changes have no other choice but to send their children out to work.’The effects of natural disasters and climate change is one which is becoming of increasing concern. Rural families who depend on reliable seasons for farming are particularly vulnerable to altered patterns of rainfall, soil erosion, or extreme weather. When crops are destroyed or farming land is ruined, families struggle to make a living and are more likely to send their children to work in neighbouring farms.

Conflicts & mass migration

‘There is a strong correlation between child labour and situations of conflict and disaster’According to the ILO children make up more than half of the total number of people displaced by war. These children are particularly vulnerable to forms of exploitation, including child labour, due to an increase in economic shocks, a breakdown of social support, education and basic services, and disruption of child protection services. The incidence of child labour in countries affected by conflict is almost twice as high as the global average. Children are also vulnerable to becoming involved in armed conflict, this is considered one of the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

Fighting child labour

SDG Goal 8.7 calls for the elimination of all forms of child labour by 2025. With 152 million children involved in child labour worldwide, we still have a long way to go. Programmes and policies which take into account the voices of the communities where child labour occurs, and the root causes, can advance real and sustainable progress in the fight against child labour.

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Why does child labour happen? Here are some of the root causes (2024)

FAQs

Why does child labour happen? Here are some of the root causes? ›

Poverty is considered as one of the most important causes of child labour as it is linked to other driving factors including: low literarcy and numeracy rates, lack of decent work

decent work
Decent work is employment that "respects the fundamental rights of the human person as well as the rights of workers in terms of conditions of work safety and remuneration. ... respect for the physical and mental integrity of the worker in the exercise of their employment."
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Decent_work
opportunities, natural disasters and climate change, conflicts and mass displacement.

What is the main cause of labour? ›

It is not known what triggers the onset of labour, but it is thought to be influenced by the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for causing uterine contractions.

What are 10 facts about child labor? ›

10 Basic Facts about Child Labor Globally
  • Worldwide 218 million children between 5 and 17 years are in employment; 152 million are victims of child labour.
  • Almost half of them, 73 million, work in hazardous child labour.
  • Hazardous child labour is most prevalent among the 15-17 years old.
Jul 16, 2018

Why is child labor illegal? ›

The federal child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) were enacted to ensure that when young people work, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities.

Can labor start while sleeping? ›

So many of my clients go into labor, or begin having contractions in the middle of the night. If this is your first baby, you are probably feeling very excited that the time is finally here!

Where is child labor most common? ›

The Africa region and the Asia and the Pacific region together host nine out of every ten children in child labour. Africa ranks highest both in the percentage of children in child labour – one-fifth – and the absolute number of children in child labour – 72 million.

What is the most common form of child labour? ›

Child labor disrupts a child's education, damages their health, and exposes them to violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation. The most common types include debt bondage, sex trafficking, armed conflict, forced criminal activities, agriculture, mining, factory work, and domestic work.

When did child labor start and end? ›

Forms of extreme child labor existed throughout American history until the 1930s. In particular, child labor was rife during the American Industrial Revolution (1820-1870). Industrialization attracted workers and their families from farms and rural areas into urban areas and factory work.

What are 5 facts about child labor? ›

The Current State of Child Labor
  • More than 200 million children today are child labourers. ...
  • 73 million of these children are below 10 years old.
  • The highest number of child laborers is in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • The number of children in armed conflicts have risen to 300,000 over the past decade.

Where is child labor the worst? ›

List
RankCountryChild labour rate in % (total)
1Burkina Faso50.3
2Somalia43.5
3Ethiopia40.5
4Haiti37.8
64 more rows

How many kids suffer from child labor? ›

152 million children worldwide are victims of child labor; 88 million are boys and 64 million are girls.

Can a 13 year old work in Ohio? ›

What Age Can You Get A Job in Ohio At? In the state of Ohio, any minor from the age of 14-17 can work, according to the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4109. For minors that fall within that age group to start working, they have to have a working permit unless otherwise specified within Chapter 4109.

Who ended child labor? ›

The most sweeping federal law that restricts the employment and abuse of child workers is the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), which came into force during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration.

What is the youngest age to work in the US? ›

Generally speaking, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets the minimum age for employment (14 years for non-agricultural jobs), restricts the hours youth under the age of 16 may work, and prohibits youth under the age of 18 from being employed in hazardous occupations.

What is the most common form of labor? ›

vagin*l delivery is the most common type of birth.

What triggers contractions in pregnancy? ›

Contractions occur in pregnancy when you have a certain level of oxytocin flowing in your blood. 1 This can be very normal, like labor, when your body and your baby's brain release oxytocin to stimulate contractions for labor.

What is the most common week to go into labor? ›

The researchers also found that:
  • 10% gave birth by 38 weeks and 5 days after the LMP.
  • 25% gave birth by 39 weeks and 5 days after the LMP.
  • 50% gave birth by 40 weeks and 5 days after the LMP.
  • 75% gave birth by 41 weeks and 2 days after the LMP.
  • 90% gave birth by 44 weeks and zero days after the LMP.

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