Social perception about child labour – 2011 National Survey of Mexico

In Mexico, parents are blamed for child labour (87% of the population), even though it is also recognized that the problem, as a result, is caused by structural issues such as poverty (82% of the population).

The “2011 National Survey of Mexico – Social perception about child labour” report — prepared by the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour unit (IPEC) — shows contradictions between perceptions and reality, as well as the lack of information on this issue. In fact, 53% of the country’s population consider the child labour issue refers to the labour activities carried out by children, but ignores related exploitation aspects.

The survey indicates that over 90% of the population ignores the child labour issue; 50,5% of the population declare to have worked before 18; 79% of the respondents believe that social indifference to this problem is also a cause; 77% of the respondents prefer the children to be working than to be involved in crime, regardless this is a serious human rights violation and not a mechanism for preventing crime. It is also important to note that 9 out of 10 of the respondents accept accidents or sexual violence as risks from child labour, and 1 out of 3 of them believes it also has benefits.

This nationally representative survey indicates that 76% of the population ignore whether in Mexico there is any law or treaty that establishes a minimum age for admission to employment or work in the country, and 2 out of 3 of the respondents recognize not having heard or seen any information about child labour in any public or private media. Out of the respondents, 68% agree with the idea that 14-17 year old children could be involved in work and state that additionally the main reason for this opinion is the fact that the children would get in touch with work values and maturity and develop a physical capacity for labour purposes. This shows a clear misunderstanding of teenager’s development and gives an idea of the education, leisure and rest impediments they have to face.

Of the respondents, 62% indicated that children who work do so in the third sector, specifically in street vending sales and trade, services, domestic labour and other urban activities. Of the respondents, 19% indicated having seen children working in the building sector, factories, mines and quarries (second sector). Only 14% of the respondents reported knowing about children working in the first sector or agricultural sector, even though figures¹ indicate that almost one third of the three million children aged from 5 to 17 years old that work do so in this sector.

NOTE: The report is available only in Spanish.

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¹ According to Child Labour Module in the National Surveys 2009 and 2011 undertaken by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (STPS).