World Day Against Child Labour
The roots of Child Labour in Russia are in the family situation. In Russia, the phenomenon of Child Labour is relatively recent.
12 June 2004
Press release on domestic child labour (PDF , 105 Kb)
Facts on Child Labour (PDF , 425 Kb)
In Russia, the phenomenon of Child Labour is relatively recent. The huge social changes and the economic crisis make it harder for parents to monitor school attendance of their children and to provide them with adequate leisure activities. Parents are not aware of the harmful effects that child labour has on the healthy development of children. The roots of child labour in Russia are in the family situation.
Working conditions for tens of thousands of Russian children include night work, open air work in winter, work exposing children to illness, physical strain when lifting heavy objects, work with inappropriate or insufficient protection and with danger of violence by adults. Particularly children engaged in prostitution and illegal activities are in immediate danger.
Two years ago the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour - to mark and support the worldwide movement against this problem. The theme for this year's World Day is child domestic labour, including its worst forms - slave-like conditions, violence or physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Though child domestic labour occurs in most parts of the developing world and in some parts of Europe and North America as well, in Russia child labour generally takes different forms. The most visible child workers in Russia are to be found in the streets and markets of big cities. But this Day is the opportunity to raise our voices in protest against all forms of child labour and in particular its worst forms that include slavery, child prostitution and pornography, illicit activities and hazardous work.
Child domestic labour refers to situations where children are engaged to perform domestic tasks in the home of a third party or employer. These children, working behind closed doors in a private home, are extremely vulnerable to exploitation.
Children engaged as domestic workers often work long hours and in hazardous conditions harmful to a child's development - mental, social and emotional. They are deprived of an education, and the exploitation they experience during childhood denies them opportunities in later life. Some of them may be victims of child trafficking.
Not all children engaged in domestic work fall under the definition of child labour to be eliminated, according to the ILO Conventions No. 182 (On the worst forms of child labour) and No. 138 (On the minimum age for employment). In every country of the world, children lend a helping hand in their own home. They may make the bed, hang out the washing, babysit a younger sibling or pick up berries near home. In moderation, allowing time for education and play, such tasks are a natural part of childhood development and family socialization. This kind of work is not child domestic labour.
The ongoing issue in Russia is the difference between legal, recommended work for children and harmful, dangerous work. It is legal for children to do light work in their teenage years, not interfering with school, such as distributing newspapers, babysitting, or assisting in shops after school hours. The ILO convention No. 138 on minimum age provides guidance on this issue.
All children are encouraged to lend a hand at home. But a new report from the ILO highlights the plight of the millions of youngsters who are exploited as child domestic labourers. The report, Helping Hands or Shackled Lives: Understanding Child Domestic Labour and Responses to it, is being released in advance of this year's World Day Against Child Labour ( June 12).
"We have to work for a common goal. It's decent work for parents, education for children and opportunities for young people. Now, all adults have the responsibility to act and react when they see children exploited for profit", says Juan Somavia, Director General of the ILO.
Research carried out by Russian sociologists with support from the ILO, shows that the problem of child labour in Russia finds its roots in the situation of the family. Since three years the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) has been active in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region developing projects that help working street children and their families to recover and to reach better life opportunities.
Facts on Child Labour (PDF , 425 Kb)
In Russia, the phenomenon of Child Labour is relatively recent. The huge social changes and the economic crisis make it harder for parents to monitor school attendance of their children and to provide them with adequate leisure activities. Parents are not aware of the harmful effects that child labour has on the healthy development of children. The roots of child labour in Russia are in the family situation.
Working conditions for tens of thousands of Russian children include night work, open air work in winter, work exposing children to illness, physical strain when lifting heavy objects, work with inappropriate or insufficient protection and with danger of violence by adults. Particularly children engaged in prostitution and illegal activities are in immediate danger.
Two years ago the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour - to mark and support the worldwide movement against this problem. The theme for this year's World Day is child domestic labour, including its worst forms - slave-like conditions, violence or physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Though child domestic labour occurs in most parts of the developing world and in some parts of Europe and North America as well, in Russia child labour generally takes different forms. The most visible child workers in Russia are to be found in the streets and markets of big cities. But this Day is the opportunity to raise our voices in protest against all forms of child labour and in particular its worst forms that include slavery, child prostitution and pornography, illicit activities and hazardous work.
Child domestic labour refers to situations where children are engaged to perform domestic tasks in the home of a third party or employer. These children, working behind closed doors in a private home, are extremely vulnerable to exploitation.
Children engaged as domestic workers often work long hours and in hazardous conditions harmful to a child's development - mental, social and emotional. They are deprived of an education, and the exploitation they experience during childhood denies them opportunities in later life. Some of them may be victims of child trafficking.
Not all children engaged in domestic work fall under the definition of child labour to be eliminated, according to the ILO Conventions No. 182 (On the worst forms of child labour) and No. 138 (On the minimum age for employment). In every country of the world, children lend a helping hand in their own home. They may make the bed, hang out the washing, babysit a younger sibling or pick up berries near home. In moderation, allowing time for education and play, such tasks are a natural part of childhood development and family socialization. This kind of work is not child domestic labour.
The ongoing issue in Russia is the difference between legal, recommended work for children and harmful, dangerous work. It is legal for children to do light work in their teenage years, not interfering with school, such as distributing newspapers, babysitting, or assisting in shops after school hours. The ILO convention No. 138 on minimum age provides guidance on this issue.
All children are encouraged to lend a hand at home. But a new report from the ILO highlights the plight of the millions of youngsters who are exploited as child domestic labourers. The report, Helping Hands or Shackled Lives: Understanding Child Domestic Labour and Responses to it, is being released in advance of this year's World Day Against Child Labour ( June 12).
"We have to work for a common goal. It's decent work for parents, education for children and opportunities for young people. Now, all adults have the responsibility to act and react when they see children exploited for profit", says Juan Somavia, Director General of the ILO.
Research carried out by Russian sociologists with support from the ILO, shows that the problem of child labour in Russia finds its roots in the situation of the family. Since three years the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) has been active in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region developing projects that help working street children and their families to recover and to reach better life opportunities.