FAQs

What is child labour?

Child labour is work that exposes children to hard and exploitation and interferes with their development. It deprives them of their childhood, their potential and their dignity. Child labour should not be confused with chores done by children to help their parents. It includes:

work that is done by a child who is under the specified age for work and work that interferes with children's schooling
-by depriving them of an opportunity to attend school;
-by causing them to leave school prematurely; or
-by requiring them to combine school attendance with long hours of heavy work

The worst forms of child labour which the international community has agreed require urgent eradication are:

work that harms the physical, mental or moral well-being of a child and the use of children in
-prostitution and pornography
-illicit activity such as drug trafficking
-slavery, debt bondage and other forms of forced labour, including forced recruitment for use in armed conflict
-trafficking of children

Does Child Labour Exist in the Caribbean?

Sadly, yes. Studies conducted during 2001-2003 by the International Labour Organization in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago , Guyana, Suriname, Belize, Barbados and The Bahamas reveal the existence of child labour. Although child labour does not exist on the same scale and magnitude as in other regions of the world. Its existence and impact cannot be denied. In addition to identifying numerous economic activities that kept children out of school, the researchers found children who were exposed to the worst forms of child labour, such as hazardous work and illegal activities including prostitution and drug trafficking. It is often hidden from public view.

Where Does Child Labour Mainly Exist?

Child labour exists in both urban and rural communities. It exists in communities that experience high levels of poverty, but can also be found in cities and towns, in markets, around construction sites, in mines, in garbage dumps, in the agriculture sector and in households as domestic labour. In the Caribbean, child labour takes place primarily in areas of the informal economy, which are not normally well-monitored.

What Forms of Child Labour are Found in the Caribbean?

• Children selling and working on the streets and in the markets during school hours, lifting heavy loads and being exposed to hazardous work;
• Children working on farms exposed to pesticides, heat, injuries, insects and other animals;
• Children scavenging on garbage dumps for saleable items with prolonged exposure to dust, smoke, heat an other toxic products;
• Young boys and girls under 18 years involved in prostitution, exposed to abuse, HIV/AIDS and other diseases;
• Children crossing borders to work in brothels;
• Children being used as drug traffickers and pushers
• Young girls working as domestic labourers or being kept at home to do chores and look after their siblings instead of going to school

What are the Main Causes of Child Labour?

As in other countries around the world, factors such as the family situation, poverty and cultural influences contribute to the existence of child labour in the Caribbean. Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of child labour in all its forms. Poor families sometimes view the immediate gains of work as more profitable than long-term investment in education. Similarly, the high cost of quality education in the region (books, fees, lessons, etc) encourages some low income families to direct their children towards work rather than study.

Contributory factors also include low levels of education (of the child and parents), low parental skill level, the affects of HIV/AIDS when parents die and leave orphans and the impact of peer group and external material influences.

Why Should we be Concerned About the Existence of Child Labour?

We should be concerned about child labour in our region because it is a matter of ...

Saving lives... The effects of hazardous work on children can be even more acute than they are for adults resulting in the loss of life and limb (in some instances it can be traumatic).

Combating crime... The use of children for prostitution and drug trafficking are hideous crimes that must be urgently addressed since they rob children of a bright future and the achievement of their full potential.

Protecting human rights... All human beings, including children, have rights, including a right to an education, a right to be protected from harm, abuse and exploitation through work.

Building our nation's future... Children subjected to extreme forms of exploitation, with little or no basic education or skills, are not likely to contribute to building a productive workforce.

How Can we Address the Problems of Child Labour?

The International Labour Organization is spearheading worldwide action to combat child labour. The ILO has been working closely with Governments and workers' and employers' organizations of its Member States to ensure that international treaties on child labour are adopted and applied in national legislation and programmes. Two ILO treaties or Conventions that support action against child labour are the Minimum Age Convention No. 138 which sets the minimum age for admission to employment and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention No. 182. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child through its Article 32. also addresses child labour.

Actions Initiated by Caribbean Governments

Some Caribbean Governments have already initiated action to address child labour by:

• ratifying the ILO's Conventions on child labour
• establishing multi-sectoral child labour steering committees
• conducting national surveys
• collaborating with regards to child labour research
• reviewing their legislation to identify gaps that permit the exploitation and abuse of children
• participating in action programmes designed to remove and rehabilitate child labourers through traditional and non-traditional education, counselling and skills training. Action programmes are being implemented in Jamaica, Belize, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago with assistance from the International Labour Organization through its International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC)

How Can You Help?

You can do your part in your community by:

• motivating children to stay in school
• ensuring there is access to education and vocational education
• promoting the value of education among children and parents
• advocating for poverty alleviation programmes and more adequate social services
• supporting international and local campaigns against child labour
• making more people aware of child labour - its hazards and risks
• reporting any known incidents of illegal child labour activities to the relevant authorities
• loving and embracing our children and supporting their positive growth and development.