Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is illegal in many countries and is considered exploitative by many international organisations, such as the ILO[1] and the UNICEF.[2] However, despite the large social reform movement and international regulations have been generated around this issue, more than 200 million children worldwide are still in child labour and a staggering 115 million at least, are subject to its worst forms. In almost all over the world children are being denied of their right to a childhood and forced into work at a young age.[3]
Children are protected by various regulations, such as The UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD 1989 (CRC).[4] However, despite the nearly universal ratification of this regulation, UNICEF has declared that the plight of children worldwide has not significantly improved as States have not followed through on their commitments to the CRC.[5]
Under the convention 138 [6] of ILO, minimum age is set for admission to employment. The ILO further adopts the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182).[7] It concerns the sale and trafficking of children, the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances.[8]
Despite a number of international regulations were created, which set legal standards to prohibit the exploitation of child labour, the problem remains widespread. Ultimately, the success of these regulations will depend on the level of public concern, the political will of governments and the resources invested for exploited children. Governments that took a token approach will likely see children exploited in their country for many years to come; those who took a sincere and comprehensive approach to ending the problem may achieve results in a very short time frame.[9]
[1] ‘The End of Child Labour: Within Reach’
<http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc95/pdf/rep-i-b.pdf>accessed on 6 November 2010
[2] UNICEF, ‘Beyond Child Labour: Affirming rights’ <http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/pub_beyond_en.pdf> accessed 3 November 2010
[3] Global March against child labour, <http://www.globalmarch.org/clns/clns-march-2010-details.php> accessed 31 October 2010
[4] CRC, ‘Minimum Age Convention 1973’ <http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/cgi-lex/convde.pl?C138> accessed 30 October 2010
[5] Madiha Murshed, ‘Unraveling Child Labor and Labor Legislation, in Journal of International Affairs’ [2001] JIA <http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-79830574.html>accessed 9 October 2010
[6] ILO, ‘Convention No.138’ <http://www.ilocarib.org.tt/projects/cariblex/conventions_6.shtml>accessed 3 November 2010
[7] CRC, ‘Worst forms of Child Labour Convention 1999’ <http://www.globalmarch.org/campaigns/conventioncampaign/C-182-English.pdf> accessed 30 October 2010
[8] H. D Hindman: ‘The World of Child Labour, an historical and regional survey’ <http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lrKec5YTVYAC&printsec=frontcover&source> accessed 2 November 2010
[9]Child labour , ‘The real situation’ <http://www.childlabor.in/child-labour-laws.htm>accessed 5 November 2010
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