10 Questions Activist, Somin Lim, on Child Labor 1. What is the child labor? Child labor is work that harms children or keeps them from attending school. 2. Where is child labor happening? Of an estimated 215 million child laborers around the globe: 114 million (53%) are in Asia and Pacific. 14 million (7%) live in Latin America and 65 million (30%) live in sub –Saharan Africa. 3. Where did child labor begin? As the U.S became industrialized , workers moved to the urban area and factories and they preferred children because they are cheaper and less likely to strike. 4. What kinds of work do children do as child laborers? Many child laborers work in agriculture, fishing, hunting, factories, and foresting. Some children work in cement, textile and food processing industries. 5. Is there any law against child labor? (U.S) In general, for non- agriculture jobs, children younger than 14 may not be employed, and children between 14 and 16 may be allowed to have a job for limited hours. 6. Are there any organizations to help stop child labor? Yes. Child Labor Free Zones (CLFZ) are geographical areas where all children systemically are withdrawn from labor and (re) integrated into formal, full time schools. SCREAM is the project of IPEC, a department of the International Labor rights. (ILO) 7. What does the organization do? The purpose of the ILO is to promote social justice and internationall y recognize human and labor rights. 8. Which countries are worst for child labor? Pakistan, Afghanistan,
1. What is the child labor? Child labor is work that harms
children or keeps them from attending school. 2. Where is child
labor happening? Of an estimated 215 million child laborers around
the globe: 114 million (53%) are in Asia and Pacific. 14 million
(7%) live in Latin America and 65 million (30%) live in sub Saharan
Africa.3. Where did child labor begin? As the U.S became
industrialized, workers moved to the urban area and factories and
they preferred children because they are cheaper and less likely to
strike.4. What kinds of work do children do as child laborers? Many
child laborers work in agriculture, fishing, hunting, factories,
and foresting.Some children work in cement, textile and food
processing industries.5. Is there any law against child labor?
(U.S) In general, for non-agriculture jobs, children younger than
14 may not be employed, and children between 14 and 16 may be
allowed to have a job for limited hours.6. Are there any
organizations to help stop child labor?Yes. Child Labor Free Zones
(CLFZ) are geographical areas where all children systemically are
withdrawn from labor and (re) integrated into formal, full time
schools. SCREAM is the project of IPEC, a department of the
International Labor rights. (ILO)7. What does the organization do?
The purpose of the ILO is to promote social justice and
internationally recognize human and labor rights.8. Which countries
are worst for child labor? Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Korea and
Myanmar are the worst. For example, In Afghanistan, more than half
of the children are forced to work on poppy fields or cements.
Also, in North Korea, school children can be seen working in
factories and fields.9. What could children do at school to stop
child labor?We can play a role play in fighting child labor. For
example, in Netherlands, children can play important role in
fighting child labor. Many teachers in education have shown it isnt
difficult. Their success stories and tips have been compiled in the
special publication "Lets all go to school", along with other
suggestions for activities at school and in class.10. Why is it
important to end child labor? Ending child labor will help the
global economy. A study suggested that it would cost $760 bill to
end child labor over 20 years period. Even though, its expensive,
if child labor ends, Children can go to school and live a better
life. Also, they became healthier, too.
