Opinion Article on Committee Session #3

In the Search of Happy Ending: Child Labor Is Still Everywhere

Child is meant to learn, not to earn.

Child labor is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. Education is a fundamental right to all children. According to the International Labour Organization, there are an estimated 168 million children. They are forced to work in places, such as mines, factories, farms (agricultural sectors). Extreme poverty is the other reason why child labor is still everywhere. For example, child labor in the cotton harvest in Turkey. Many children dropout from school, are injured, or even can be killed because of work accidents. The children working an average of more than six days per week. ²Experience shows that deep-rooted social norms, the violation of workers’ rights, discrimination against certain groups, and a poorly-functioning education system are the main reasons why children aren’t attending school.

Child labor in the mining industry can be found in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. They were often beaten if they made mistakes. Mining is a work that is hazardous in every way. Reasons, why child labor was often in the mining industry are lack of education, extreme poverty, and lack of economic opportunities. The rate of mortality in the mining industry might be high because the children can be easily killed by cobalt and stone mining. Stone mining can cause dehydration and respiratory infections. The children also work on a minimum wage. To tackle the number increased of child labor, quoting from the delegate of Afghanistan, the country proposes free primary education to all children. But one of the main focuses of the International Labour Organization (ILO) is to promote rights at work. One of the alternative ways is to work with other UN bodies, such as UNICEF, regarding education to the children.

Discouraging industries to stop employing children is needed and a must. A standard for almost every industry is the prohibition of child labor as a core requirement. But in fact that internal members cannot provide a 100 percent guarantee of zero child employment throughout the year.

¹International Labour Organization. “What is child labour”. ILO org, https://www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/lang--en/index.htm

² Stop Child Labor. “About Child Labor”. Stop Child Labor org, https://stopchildlabour.org/about-child-labour/