In this paper we consider developed countries the member states of the European Union and the OECD. It makes totally 34 countries (the EU-28 and Australia, Canada, Korea, New-Zeeland, Turkey and the USA). Obviously, not all of the EU members are joined to the OECD as well, whereas some OECD country exists without EU membership.
The mainstream public opinion would say there is no point to deal with child labour concerning these countries since this issue has marginal significance and obviously it is worth much better to cater for the developing world. We do think it differently. Even if developed countries’ figures are seemed to be irrelevant in comparison with those from converging and emerging states, some good reasons are to be mentioned on the other hand.
First of all, the well developed and industralized states must act a role model in the eyes of the rest of the world therefore any alteration from the benchmark can hardly be acceptable. A further reason, that the IPEC itself is highly optimistic about the total elimination and where else would be more self-evident to achieve this ambition than in the economically best situated countries. And finally, the seriousness of the topic may give an explanation as well since even one child within deplorable conditions shall be too much, consequently, we are supposed to be strict with the developed world.
The EU and the USA has introduced provisions on a new Generalised System of Preferences, banning – among others – the import of products from industries using child labour. The question is what kind of actions are to be taken to avoid child labour in the internal markets.
In 2004 the total number of children were 1566 million in which 218 million was working, so the 14 % of total children. This number shows a slight decrease compare to 2000’s data since the percentage was 16 % - 245 million working children from totally 1531 million. In accordance with the geographical distribution, the figures represent a strongly unequal share between continents. Asia takes responsability for almost the two-third of child workers while the second biggest chunk is belonged from Africa. The reasons of the overrepresentation of the two said continents are quite obvious, the relative underdevelopment and the vast proportion of the world’s children. One would say that the developed countries’ role is deemed to be marginal but the 1 % share means more than 2 million children at work.
Understanding the above number it is striking how developed countries are negligent about the problem. In New Zeeland for example there are not any relevant statistics about but child labour is certainly exists since there is annually one child victim in work related accidents in this roughly 3.6 million’s country.
Recent surveys show there is a strong correlation between child labour and child poverty and lack of education. In the industrialized countries 3,7 % of school age children are out of school. It means 2.6 million children in other words approximately equal with the number of working children in these countries.Parental unemployment constitutes another aspect of disadvantages which could lead to child labour. Children who are growing up in a family in which one or both parents are unemployed very often are supposed to contribute family income. A derivated cross-effect that men unemployment is negatively correlate with marital stability which can also impact children’s well-being.And not to underestimate to role of social exlusion. Ethnic minorities like gypsies in Europe, aborigines in Australia, maories in New Zeeland, inuits in Canada, natives, african-americans and latinos in the United States are specially vulnerable by child labour as they are out of the scope. The situation is similar with migrants, among which child laborers are well overrepresented.
The alteration amongst the developed countries concerning child labour is significant. Taken into account the ratio between the total number of children and working children, Romania and Bulgaria are legging behind the others. In these countries ethnic minorities are particularly involved in child labour, especially in remote, agricultural territories. Child trafficking constitutes a major problem also and Romania „exported”many child street vendors and beggars through Europe. In absolute numbers the USA considers the worst example. In the USA 16 % of children live below the poverty line and only in agriculture we can find more than 200.000 child workers. As we expected, among the „old” EU members the highest rates are in Spain, Portugal and (Southern-) Italy. In Spain and Portugal child poverty and consequently child labour have remained on the same level despite of the economic boom of the ’90’s and 2000’s. It proves that concerning child labour is not only money matters but other, mainly cultural factors. That is why this tackle is harder than simply compress the inequalality gap.
Furthermore, it constitutes a huge problem that companies and citizens of the developed countries „export” child labour to the emerging states. Due to the Generalised System of Preferences, the situation has become better in business life but amongst private persons sex tourism to third countries is still a significant troublesome phenomenon.
Concerning the partition among the sectors, similarly to the developing world the agriculture represents the major ground for child labour. Child workers plant and harvest crops, spray pesticides and tend livestock very often from sun up to sun down. Surprisingly enough, agriculture is deemed to be one of the three most dangerous sectors along with construction and mining. The major defavorable circumstances which facilitate child labour are the remoteness of the rural territories, the lack of the schools and the traditionally underregulated agricultural sector.
Subject to the share of various sectors in which child labour exists, apart from agriculture which role is considered as the strongest one, we can see serious differences between developed countries and the rest of the world. While in the emerging and converging countries mines, ceramics and glass factory work, matches and firework industry, deep sea fishing and slavery are just a few examples of the several grounds of child labour, in the developed countries domestic works, street vendors and beggars and unfortunately child prostitution and pornography and the related trafficking activities are the main responsible factors for child labour.
From the differences it is obvious that whereas in the developing countries child labour on the one hand is an integral part of the (informal) economy, though on the other hand is changeable with other workforce. By contrast in the developed world child labour is mainly related to illegal activities therefore the total annulation will be extremely difficult and full of challenges.
To be continued.
A previous version of the whole study can be found here
The mainstream public opinion would say there is no point to deal with child labour concerning these countries since this issue has marginal significance and obviously it is worth much better to cater for the developing world. We do think it differently. Even if developed countries’ figures are seemed to be irrelevant in comparison with those from converging and emerging states, some good reasons are to be mentioned on the other hand.
First of all, the well developed and industralized states must act a role model in the eyes of the rest of the world therefore any alteration from the benchmark can hardly be acceptable. A further reason, that the IPEC itself is highly optimistic about the total elimination and where else would be more self-evident to achieve this ambition than in the economically best situated countries. And finally, the seriousness of the topic may give an explanation as well since even one child within deplorable conditions shall be too much, consequently, we are supposed to be strict with the developed world.
The EU and the USA has introduced provisions on a new Generalised System of Preferences, banning – among others – the import of products from industries using child labour. The question is what kind of actions are to be taken to avoid child labour in the internal markets.
In 2004 the total number of children were 1566 million in which 218 million was working, so the 14 % of total children. This number shows a slight decrease compare to 2000’s data since the percentage was 16 % - 245 million working children from totally 1531 million. In accordance with the geographical distribution, the figures represent a strongly unequal share between continents. Asia takes responsability for almost the two-third of child workers while the second biggest chunk is belonged from Africa. The reasons of the overrepresentation of the two said continents are quite obvious, the relative underdevelopment and the vast proportion of the world’s children. One would say that the developed countries’ role is deemed to be marginal but the 1 % share means more than 2 million children at work.
Understanding the above number it is striking how developed countries are negligent about the problem. In New Zeeland for example there are not any relevant statistics about but child labour is certainly exists since there is annually one child victim in work related accidents in this roughly 3.6 million’s country.
Recent surveys show there is a strong correlation between child labour and child poverty and lack of education. In the industrialized countries 3,7 % of school age children are out of school. It means 2.6 million children in other words approximately equal with the number of working children in these countries.Parental unemployment constitutes another aspect of disadvantages which could lead to child labour. Children who are growing up in a family in which one or both parents are unemployed very often are supposed to contribute family income. A derivated cross-effect that men unemployment is negatively correlate with marital stability which can also impact children’s well-being.And not to underestimate to role of social exlusion. Ethnic minorities like gypsies in Europe, aborigines in Australia, maories in New Zeeland, inuits in Canada, natives, african-americans and latinos in the United States are specially vulnerable by child labour as they are out of the scope. The situation is similar with migrants, among which child laborers are well overrepresented.
The alteration amongst the developed countries concerning child labour is significant. Taken into account the ratio between the total number of children and working children, Romania and Bulgaria are legging behind the others. In these countries ethnic minorities are particularly involved in child labour, especially in remote, agricultural territories. Child trafficking constitutes a major problem also and Romania „exported”many child street vendors and beggars through Europe. In absolute numbers the USA considers the worst example. In the USA 16 % of children live below the poverty line and only in agriculture we can find more than 200.000 child workers. As we expected, among the „old” EU members the highest rates are in Spain, Portugal and (Southern-) Italy. In Spain and Portugal child poverty and consequently child labour have remained on the same level despite of the economic boom of the ’90’s and 2000’s. It proves that concerning child labour is not only money matters but other, mainly cultural factors. That is why this tackle is harder than simply compress the inequalality gap.
Furthermore, it constitutes a huge problem that companies and citizens of the developed countries „export” child labour to the emerging states. Due to the Generalised System of Preferences, the situation has become better in business life but amongst private persons sex tourism to third countries is still a significant troublesome phenomenon.
Concerning the partition among the sectors, similarly to the developing world the agriculture represents the major ground for child labour. Child workers plant and harvest crops, spray pesticides and tend livestock very often from sun up to sun down. Surprisingly enough, agriculture is deemed to be one of the three most dangerous sectors along with construction and mining. The major defavorable circumstances which facilitate child labour are the remoteness of the rural territories, the lack of the schools and the traditionally underregulated agricultural sector.
Subject to the share of various sectors in which child labour exists, apart from agriculture which role is considered as the strongest one, we can see serious differences between developed countries and the rest of the world. While in the emerging and converging countries mines, ceramics and glass factory work, matches and firework industry, deep sea fishing and slavery are just a few examples of the several grounds of child labour, in the developed countries domestic works, street vendors and beggars and unfortunately child prostitution and pornography and the related trafficking activities are the main responsible factors for child labour.
From the differences it is obvious that whereas in the developing countries child labour on the one hand is an integral part of the (informal) economy, though on the other hand is changeable with other workforce. By contrast in the developed world child labour is mainly related to illegal activities therefore the total annulation will be extremely difficult and full of challenges.
To be continued.
A previous version of the whole study can be found here
