Concerns over spiralling child labour numbers
16/06/2008
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has voiced its concern over the number of children aged between five and 14 that are engaged in full time employment.
According to the global body, as many as 165 million children around the world are currently victims of child labour, many of whom are subjected to long hours in dangerous working conditions.
Speaking on World Day Against Child Labour, ILO director general Juan Somavia reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to eradicating the practice by 2016.
He said that promoting education for young children was the best way to clamp down on underage labour and to bolster opportunities for the families who currently rely on their offspring as providers.
"We must work for every child's right to education so no child has to work for survival," Dr Somavia commented. "The goal is quality education for children and decent work for adults."
"More than 70 million primary school aged children are not enrolled in school," Mr Somavia continued, adding that in many underprivileged societies education is regarded as somewhat of an "abstract concept".
"Many of these and other out-of-school children start working at an early age, often well below the minimum age of employment. And when a family has to make a choice between sending either a boy or girl to school, it is often the girl who loses out."
The UN has said that young girls are often more disadvantaged than boys in developing countries as they face a dual burden of work inside and outside the home.
©