Not all children have a family that can feed them and give them the love they need. in many cases, and not only in Third World countries, These children also have to contribute to the maintenance of the home. Today, World Day Against Child Labor, you can talk to your children about this topic and explain the realities of other families.
With the global pandemic of COVID-19 there has been a increase in child labor in all countries, because many families are in a much more vulnerable economic situation than before.
What is child labor and what is not?
Not all tasks that children do are classified as child labor and therefore have to be eradicated. Child labor is understood as everything work, paid or unpaid, that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity. It hurts their physical and psychological development.
We talk about jobs that are dangerous and harmful for the physical, mental or moral well-being of the child; interferes with their schooling because deprives them of attending school, It forces them to abandon it prematurely, or they combine it with heavy and time-consuming work. The most extreme form of child labor is children subjected to situations of slavery, separated from their family, and sex jobs.
In general, that children or adolescents participate in work that does not threaten their health, or interfere with their schooling, is considered positive. We speak, for example, of help with housework, collaboration in a family business or those they do during the holidays. These types of activities are often positive for children's development, provide them with qualifications and experience, and help them prepare to be members of society.
Materials to work with your children on this concept
In different YouTube channels, educational videos, UNHCR material and other organizations you will find many statistics, data and examples of what child labor is so that you can talk with your children about it. You will also find stories that tell the story of children who live working, not only in Africa or Latin America, but for example the story of Pedro and Juan don't play takes place in a European city.
We especially want to recommend a guide that was published in 2009 by the ILO, Although it is a bit old, its methodology is still valid. This guide proposes a comparative clock with the hours that a child in India, is the example that appears, dedicates to his work and going to school. And it should be your son or daughter, who makes this same clock, with the hours he spends at school, playing with his friends or other activities. It is very illustrative to compare both. You have more details about this activity here.
Following the trend of escape rooms, UNICEF Spain has launched the #TheUnescapeRoom campaign, a video social experiment in which children can put themselves in the shoes of other children who work in the most extreme conditions. The data managed by UNICEF is that 151,6 million children are victims of child labor around the world.
Is there child labor in Spain?
It is possible that when you talk to your children about this, they will tell you that this, children's work, exists in other places, but not in Spain. This is only half true. The ILO in its latest report speaks of the fact that child labor in Spain hides behind prostitution and begging. Some minors, in addition to practicing prostitution, are forced to beg with babies, commit theft or collect signatures of support for organizations that do not exist. In Spain, the only children under 16 years of age who can work thanks to a royal decree are those who are dedicated to artistic field.
The truth is that, fortunately in Europe the numbers are not reached as in other places on the planet. Almost half of child labor (72 million boys and girls) is concentrated in Africa; 62 million in Asia and the Pacific; 10,7 million in the Americas; 1,1 million in the Arab States; and 5,5 million in Europe and Central Asia.