What Is Child Labour?

Any child under the age specified by law worldwidecommercial and sexual exploitation of children, hard
works full time, mentally or physically to earn for ownworking condition.
survival or adding to family income, that interruptsWith the change of world order future education
child's social development and education is called "childsystem would be more practical than present system
labour".of theory from books and notebooks. Each child would
Any child under the age of 15 engaged in activity tobe encouraged to involve in practical education that
feed family or self is "child labour". ILO Convention 138gives skill to survive in competitive world. So, defining
(C. 138) obligates countries to fix a minimum age for"education" becomes important to define "child labour".
employment that should not be less than the age forThus any child works for pleasure, leisure, pocket
completing compulsory schooling and, in any event,money, helping parents, hobby, aspiration, non
should not be less than 15 years. Developing countrieshazardous part time work is not "child labour". "Child
may set the minimum age at 14. C-138 provideslabour" purely accounts when child is forced to work
flexibility for countries to establish a younger minimumunder slavery, poverty, parentless or social or parent's
age of 12 or 13 for children to partake in "light work."boycott.
Children's participation in economic activity - that doesTypes of child labour- Self employed and employed
not negatively affect their health and development orwith others are two categories of child labour:
interfere with education, can be positive. Work that- Self employed- street sellers, rag or scrap pickers,
does not interfere with education (light work) isstreet entertainers, child prostitution or pornography
permitted from the age of 12 years under the(but mostly they are hired by notorious gangs), begging,
International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 138.and other odd jobs. These types of children are mainly
So child engaged in part time work to learn practicalstreet children and rural migrants. Most these children
skill linked to social or inherited custom or crafts is notare parentless, abandoned by parents, riot or war
child labor. It becomes "child labour" only when childmisery. The situation changes; in poor countries they
weaves carpet in a factory or factory; earns moneyare helping hand to the parents.
to support family without schooling, social development.- Employed with others- factory or mine workers,
On the other hand if child works for 3-4 hours to learndomestic servants, child prostitution or pornography.
or earn for self or parents after schooling, would notConducting work in other's premises or in other's
be known as child labour as is additional education andcustody. Such children work with parents consent or
practical skill that a child learns.are parentless. Some are sold or some work to help
Definition of elements of worst forms of child labour-parents to meet livelihood.
all types of slavery, forceful hiring of children,