Child Labour: is defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity. It refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interferes with their schooling by:
- Depriving them of the opportunity to attend school;
- Obliging them to leave school prematurely; or
- Requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
There are conventions that define age, forms of work that constitute child labour and the worst forms of child labour. Whether or not particular forms of work can be categorised as child labour depends on the child’s age, the type and hours of work performed, or the conditions under which it is performed.
A child is considered to be involved in child labour activities under the following classification: (a) A child aged 5 to 11 years who does any work in return for money for more than one hour or at least 28 hours of household chores in a week, and (b) A child aged 12 to 14 years who performs at least 14 hours of work in return for money or at least 42 hours of
household chores combined a week. Boys are more likely to be found in economic activity while girls are more likely to be overburdened with domestic activity.
Child labour denies children education, and where they are enrolled in school, it affects school performance. It also affects their growth and health.
Let’s not burden our children with physically challenging work that affects their development.