Globally, about nearly 250 million children are estimated to be engaged in child labour around the world and about 70% or 170 million works in agriculture. ( Human right watch , 2006).
To better understand the concept on child labour, read my article on what is child Labour
http://nokviews.com/2024/08/12/what-is-child-labour/
http://nokviews.com/2024/09/09/what-is-child-labour/
It is important to note that child labour is not just limited to the poor country of the world, it is a part of life of the poor sectors in different societies but the developing countries have being faced with the worse features of child labour.
In Brazil, 18 percent of the workforce is constituted by children , in Nigeria, an estimated 12 million children are working, In India there is an estimated 44 million children workers . Also in Pakistan there are records of 7.5 million to 10 million child labourers ( Boyd R. 1994, p154-155).
Also, Child labour is mostly concentrated in Asia and Africa which amounts to about 90 percent of total child employment. ( Adeoti , Coster and Gbolagun. 2013 p47) Child labour has been recognised as a capitalist expropriation, it is not a new ethical and development challenge in Africa, especially since post-colonial time (Aderinto S. 2012 , 243)
In Africa, child labour has reached an alarming rate with over 60 million children between the age of 5 to 14 involved in child labour, from working in gold and salt mines , to plantations, slaughter houses , as domestic workers, street vendors , child vendors to mention a few. ( Kpodar T. 2002. P 32)
The areas which have been recognised globally to be at the forefront of child labour and child work is direct employment in industries, sometimes children are sold into these industries by their parents, example of these industries are carpet making industries, gem polishing and garment making industries to mention a few.
The second globally recognised area which child labour is made use of is the agricultural farm labour, child labour in this sector constitute part of family labour, there is also the presence of forced labour from these farms to urban centres .( Boyd R. 1994, p156-157).
The third area is the informal sector area which is majorly characterised by the worst forms of child labour and illicit acts such as child prostitutes, street vendors, begging to mention a few. This sector is very alarming and detrimental to the children. ( Boyd R. 1994, p156-157).
The fourth aspect recognised globally for child labour is the household and domestic labour, in this area, children are made to work for long hours as house helps and domestic servants. ( Boyd R. 1994, p156-157).
The other area that make use of child labour is that of child soldiers and most of the times, these children die in armed conflict. (Kpodar T. 2002 p 32). This is detrimental to children and there is a need to tackle it at a global level, this is evident in the global and legislative means which international organisations have embarked on.
In this post, an insight have been giving to better understand the global perspective of child labour . 4 aspects which have been recognised to have an increase in the usage of child labour has been discussed.
For reference purposes: Kadishi Oliseh. 2024. Child Labour and Cassava Farming in South Western Nigeria 2004- 2021 in Oladejo M., Adetutu S. and Omobowale M. CHILDHOOD IDENTITIES AND WELLBEING IN NIGERIA:BEING, BELONGING AND BECOMING. IBADAN: SCaRPE-A. Pp 40-48
This work was presented at the national conference convened by SCaRPE-A Nigeria held at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, on March 28, 2024. Theme of the conference CHILDHOOD IDENTITIES AND WELLBEING IN NIGERIA:BEING, BELONGING AND BECOMING.
Paper found in Chapter five: Child Labour and Cassava Farming in South
Western Nigeria 2004- 2021
For full paper : https://coeidentities.mak.ac.ug/sites/default/files/2024-03/SCARPE-A-NIGERIA-NATIONAL-CONFERENCE-BOOK-OF-PROCEEDINGS.pdf
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