Child Labour


In millions of poor families not enough money is made to feed all the family members. In these families it is necessary that the children contribute in generating a family income. In order to help their parents get an income, lots of children start begging on the streets. Others work in strenuous circumstances. They become shoe polishers, cigarette salespeople, or brick grinders –jobs which do not improve their personal development. In poor families roughly 40% of the family income is provided by their children.

For years different people and institutions have been debating what the best way is to deal with child labour. Should child labour be fought, and how should it be fought? Child labour is supposed to handicap a child’s development, but is that really true? In the past few years, there have been many efforts to come to an agreement between what is desired and what is necessary. It is desired that every child in this world gets a care-free, protected childhood. A childhood in which children are protected from dangers, and during which they are able to be children for as long as possible. Children should be able to go to school and play. But this is in many cases far from the hard reality in which children live. In this reality it is necessary to develop strategies that make sure children can survive, and be prepared for a better future. Should, in this reality, measures be taken that make it impossible for children to provide an income that is necessary to survive, just because we desire that children go to school and play?

Through different labour unions, street and working children have made clear that they prefer to work in export industries, because this labour occurs under the watchful eye of foreigners or controlling authorities, who make them feel, at least slightly, protected. When working legally is made impossible for street and working children, these children are forced to find labour in the illegal labour market, like prostitution or working night shifts in sewing factories. Children must be supported in finding a job, and must to be protected against all kinds of risks on their jobs.