A TERM PAPER ON CHILD LABOUR SUBMITTED BY GROUP 5 NAME CHUKWU HELEN DAUDA BASIRAT FARIMOYO SEUN ILESANMI BISOLA

IRABOR RICHARD NWUZOR JANE ODEMUNU YUSUF ODETOYE FUNMILAYO OJO OLUBUKOLA OLAIYA ADEOLA OLUKOLADE JANET OYEBODE TOBI SALAWU MUYIDEEN SHODIYA HAWAU OLABISI MATRIC NUMBER 124072059 124072061 124072062 124072063 124072064 124072065 124072066 124072067 124072068 124072069 124072070 124072071 124072072 124072073

LECTURER MRS. OLAYINKA IDOWU LAGOS STATE POLYTECHNIC, IKORODU CAMPUS, DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION.

ABSTRACT In its most extreme form, child labour involves children being enslaved, separated from their families, exposed to serious hazard and illness and/or left to fend for themselves on the streets, often at an early age. In this write up and for the sake of clarity, it is worthy of note that whether or not a particular form of work can be called child labour depends on the childs age, the type and hour of work performed, the condition under which it is performed.

INTRODUCTION The term child labour is often referred to as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to the childs physical and mental development. Child labour is defined in ILO Conventions. It is work that children should not be doing because they are too young to work, or if they are old enough to work because it is dangerous or otherwise unsuitable for them. Not all work done by children should be classified as child labour that is to be targeted for elimination. Childrens or adolescents participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their education is generally regarded as being something positive. Whether or not particular forms of work can be called child labour depends on the childs age, the type and hours of work performed and the conditions under which it is performed, as set out in the ILO Conventions. There are many forms of child labour worldwide. Children are engaged in agricultural labour, in mining, in manufacturing, in domestic service, types of construction, scavenging and begging on the streets. Others are trapped in forms of slavery in armed conflicts, forced labour and debt bondage (to pay off debts incurred by parents and grandparents) as well as in commercial sexual exploitation and illicit activities, such as drug trafficking and organized begging and in many other forms of labour. Many of these are worst forms of child labour as they are especially harmful, morally reprehensible, and they violate the childs freedom and human rights. Child labour tends to be concentrated in the informal sector of the economy. For some work, children receive no payment, only food and a place to sleep. Children in informal sector work receive no payment if they are injured or become ill, and can seek no protection if they suffer violence or are maltreated by their employer.

It is important to note that not all work done by children is classified as child labour a childs participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to childrens development and to the welfare of their families; they provide them with skills and experience, and help to prepare them to be productive members of the society during their adult life. Child labour is often referred and classified as work that Is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; Interferes with their schooling; Depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; Obliging them to leave school prematurely; Requiring them to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. CHILD LABOUR IN NIGERIA Child labour remains a major source of concern in Nigeria today, in spite of legislative measures taken by government at various levels. In 1998, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimated that 24.6 per cent of children between the ages of 10 14 in Nigeria were working (World Development Indicators 2000). It Is sad to note that one of the touching reminders that we are a poor country is the deluge of children on our streets selling different items to passerby, children under the age of 18, through circumstances beyond their control, are left to fend for themselves, and often for their parents as well, through the money they make working on the streets. (Publication of Wednesday 23, 2010, BusinessDay Newspaper). Research has it that parents and guardians who push their wards towards paid and unpaid labour do not do so as a matter of preference, but usually do so because they are left with no choice. It is indeed a ridiculous sight in most big cities

in Nigeria as well as rural villages to see children of school age trading food on the streets, herding animals, fetching water for commercial purpose, washing dishes at restaurants, among others. According to the International Labour Organisation, the number of working children under the age of 14 in Nigeria is estimated at 15 million. Research has shown that these children display very poor educational achievements and they suffer from fatigue, irregular attendance at school, lack of comprehension and motivation, improper socialisation, exposure to risk of sexual abuse, high likelihood of being involved in crime. THE RISE IN CHILD LABOUR IN NIGERIA The rise in child labour in Nigeria today is alarming. Research has it that increase in poverty in the country has driven millions of children into exploitative and hazardous labour. It is not far from the truth if one concludes that the rise of child labour in the country is associated with poverty, rapid urbanisation, breakdown in extended family affiliations, high school drop out rates, and lack of enforcement of legal instrument meant to protect the children, and until concrete measures to tackle and reduce poverty in Nigeria are carried out, child labour will continue to stare us in the face. It has also been discovered that, the death of one or both parents of some children has also brought rural-urban migration, which has forced these children into doing all sorts of jobs. We must admit that the prevailing abject poverty faced by most parents is the major factor that forces parents to send their children to hawk on the streets or to be involved in other forms of hard labour instead of allowing such children to go to school. The truth is that as much as some parents appreciate the importance of education, these parents are so poor that they cannot afford to buy school uniforms and other necessary learning materials like books for their children. Again the problem of high rate of joblessness in the country

amongst parents has also been pointed out as a major factor causing the rise in child

labour today, because it leaves the parents with no choice than sending these children out on the streets. A research jointly conducted sometime by three world bodies concerned with the promotion of children welfare has indicted Nigeria for not doing enough to discourage child labour. According to the joint investigation carried out by United Nations International Childrens Fund (UNICEF), United State Agency for International Development (USAID), disclosed that 39 per cent of children aged between 5 and 14 years in Nigeria are engaged in child labour. (www.ipledge2nigeria.com). The research which involved interviews with children living or working on the streets indicated that 40 per cent of them may have been given out to such forced labour or trafficked by their parents or relations. Also about 40 per cent of the children do not attend primary school. It is indeed a sad commentary that the Nigerian child appears to have been sentenced to a perpetual suffering, deprivation and wanton neglect due to acts, omission or commission by various governments over the years. The point is that not much attention has been given to our children by the countrys policy makers. In 2006, UNICEF in its report on child labour in Nigeria, reveals that a staggering 15 million children under the age of 14 were working across Nigeria and that many were exposed to long hours of work in dangerous and unhealthy environments. These children, according to report carried too much responsibility for their age. The report states that about 6 million working children in Nigeria, equally split between boys and girls, do not attend school at all, while one million are forced to drop out due to poverty. Over 8 million children manage to stay in school and work in their spare time to pay educational fees. Due to high demand at work these children often skip classes for one form of job or the other (Nigeria Tribune, Wednesday, June 16, 2010) (This day Newspaper 03,August 2010).

EFFECT AND IMPLICATIONS OF CHILD LABOUR IN NIGERIA Child labour in Nigeria has been accepted by many as part of normal life, but the practice is only an aberration which takes away the innocence of millions of children, it is a threat to the future of the country. It is important to note that these working children are prone to abuse and exploitation. They are often victims of their employers. Many children today who are destined for greatness have had their dreams and bright future often ruined by the compulsion to earn little money. In some cases they are rendered unhealthy and uneducated. Many of these child labourers would have died (many of them have been knocked down by vehicles) before reaching the age of 18, and not even have made any impact on the nations future. On the economy of Nigeria, child labours may affect the nations economy in a negative way, because job positions that require an education may go unfilled. It is vastly assumed that in the long run, child labour will not help promote and aid economic growth. While child labour may not have much effect now on the nations economy, they will play a role in shaping the country when they grow up. This is a major reason why the menace of child labour should be tackled now. In order to have educated, healthy, contributing member of the society later, hence, it is necessary to eliminate child labour now before the economic effects start to show up. Furthermore, child labour exposes these children to various hazard ranging from risk of accident, kidnapping, physical violence, they are also exposed to different kinds of weather (extreme cold or heat), insect bites, hunger and deprivation. Some are even sexually exploited and forced into prostitution with risk of unwanted pregnancies and contracting sexually transmitted infections

CURBING CHILD LABOUR IN NIGERIA Going by the current trend at which child labour is on the rise in Nigeria, if serious and adequate measures are not taken to curb the situation, Nigeria may lose her vital part of its population to the menace. To solve the problem of child labour, it has been suggested that government must be committed to progress in some key areas. The government of the day should be very interested in the cause of reducing child labour in this country to its lowest ebb. The governments at all level should endeavor to reverse this ugly trend by putting in place effective measures, which should include judicious use of public funds and the creation of economic opportunities to reduce poverty and to empower Nigerians. This will enable parents to have adequate resources not only to feed their children but also to send them to school, thus eliminating the need for child labour. The government should also make provision for compulsory free education, free medical services for these children. If these measures are adopted and properly implemented, they will go a long way in reducing child labour and giving our children good health and consequently provide a more future for them and the country. CHILD LABOUR AROUND THE WORLD Around the world and in the U. S., growing gaps between rich and poor in recent decades have forced millions of young children out of school and into work. The International Labor Organization estimates that 215 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 currently work under conditions that are considered illegal, hazardous, or extremely exploitative. Underage children work at all sorts of jobs around the world, usually because they and their families are extremely poor. Large numbers of children work in commercial agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, mining, and domestic service. Some children work in illicit activities like the drug trade and prostitution or other traumatic activities such as serving as soldiers.

CHILD LABOR INVOLVES AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:

Violates a nations minimum age laws Threatens childrens physical, mental, or emotional well -being Involves intolerable abuse, such as child slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, forced labor, or illicit activities

Prevents children from going to school Uses children to undermine labor standards

CHILD LABOR CAN BE FOUND IN NEARLY EVERY INDUSTRY Agriculture An estimated 60% of child labor occurs in agriculture, fishing, hunting, and forestry. Children have been found harvesting:

bananas in Ecuador cotton in Egypt and Benin cut flowers in Colombia oranges in Brazil cocoa in the Ivory Coast tea in Argentina and Bangladesh fruits and vegetables in the U.S.

Children in commercial agriculture can face long hours in extreme temperatures, health risks from pesticides, little or no pay, and inadequate food, water, and sanitation. Manufacturing Electroplate Worker About 14 million children are estimated to be directly involved in manufacturing goods, including:

Carpets from India, Pakistan, Egypt Clothing sewn in Bangladesh; footwear made in India and the Philippines

Soccer balls sewn in Pakistan Glass and bricks made in India Fireworks made in China, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, and Peru

Surgical instruments made in Pakistan

Mining and Quarrying Child laborers suffer extremely high illness and injury rates in underground mines, opencast mines, and quarries. Children as young as 6 or 7 years old break up rocks, and wash, sieve, and carry ore. Nine-year-olds work underground setting explosives and carrying loads. Children work in a range of mining operations, including:

Gold in Colombia Charcoal in Brazil and El Salvador Chrome in Zimbabwe Diamonds in Cote dIvoire Emeralds in Colombia Coal in Mongolia

Domestic Service Many children, especially girls, work in domestic service, sometimes starting as young as 5 or 6. This type of child labor is linked to child trafficking. Domestic child laborers can be victims of physical, emotional, and sometimes sexual abuse. Hotels, Restaurants, and Retail Some of the work of young people in this sector is considered legitimate, but there are indications of considerable abuse. Low pay is the norm, and in some tourist areas, childrens work in hotels and restaurants is linked to prostitution. In at least one example, child hotel workers received such low pay that they had to take out loans from their employers; the terms of the interest and repayment often led to debt bondage.

Unconditional Worst Forms of Child Labor Child Prostitute Millions of children are involved in work that, under any circumstance, is considered unacceptable for children, including the sale and trafficking of children into debt bondage, serfdom, and forced labor. It includes the forced recruitment of children for armed conflict, commercial sexual exploitation, and illicit activities, such as producing and trafficking drugs. In 2005, an estimated 5.7 million children were in forced and bonded labor. THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD LABOUR All child labour, and especially the worst forms, should be eliminated. It not only undermines the roots of human nature and rights but also threatens future social and economic progress worldwide. Trade, competitiveness and economic efficiency should not be a pretext for this abuse. Toolkit for mainstreaming employment and decent work/United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (ILO, Geneva, 2007) Child labour is a complex problem and numerous factors influence whether children work or not. Poverty emerges as the most compelling reason why children work. Poor households spend the bulk of their income on food and the income provided by working children is often critical to their survival. However, poverty is not the only factor in child labour and cannot justify all types of employment and servitude. Countries may be equally poor and yet have relatively high or relatively low levels of child labour. Other factors include: Barriers to education basic education is not free in all countries and is not always available for all children, especially in remote rural areas. Where schools are available, the quality of education can be poor and the content not relevant. In situations where education is not affordable or parents see no value in education, children are sent to work, rather than to school.

Culture and tradition with few opportunities open to children with more education, parents are likely to share a cultural norm in which labour is seen as the most productive use of a childs time. Children are often expected to follow in their parents footsteps and are frequently summoned to help other members of the family, often at a young age. Market demand child labour is not accidental. Employers may prefer to hire children because they are cheaper than their adult counterparts, can be dispensed of easily if labour demands fluctuate and also form a docile, obedient work-force that will not seek to organize itself for protection and support. The effects of income shocks on households households that do not have the means to deal with income shocks, such as natural disasters, economic or agricultural crises or the impact of HIV, AIDS, may resort to child labour as a coping mechanism. For example, millions of children have been affected by the HIV pandemic. Many children live with HIV, while an even larger number have been orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS. If a parent falls ill due to HIV or AIDS related illnesses, the child may have to drop out of school to care for family members. The phenomenon of child-headed households is also associated with the HIV, AIDS epidemic as orphaned children work to care for younger siblings. Inadequate/poor enforcement of legislation and policies to protect children child labour persists when national laws and policies to protect children are lacking or are not effectively implemented.

CONCLUSION The essence of this work is to create awareness to the government of the day, that the future and economy of the nation may be at risk if adequate measures are not taking to reduce the rapid increase of child labour in the country. Following the statistics of the number of children on our streets doing one menial job or the other, this has becomes worrisome. It the responsibility of the government to ensure that laws prohibiting any form of child labour is implemented. The government should also ensure that it implements all the measures stated above to curb the rise of child labour in Nigeria. Childhood is a critical time for safe and healthy human development. Because children are still growing they have special characteristics and needs, in terms of physical, cognitive (thought/learning) and behavioural development and growth, that must be taken into consideration. Child labourers are at a high risk of illness, injury and even death due to a wide variety of machinery, biological, physical, chemical, ergonomic, welfare/hygiene and psychosocial hazards, as well as from long hours of work and poor living conditions. The work hazards and risks that affect adult workers can affect child labourers even more strongly. For example, physical strain, especially when combined with repetitive movements, on growing bones and joints can cause stunting, spinal injury and other lifelong deformation and disabilities. Children often also suffer psychological damage from working and living in an environment where they are denigrated, harassed or experience violence and abuse. In addition, child labour has a profound effect on a childs future. Denied the right to a quality education, as adults they have little chance of obtaining a decent job and escaping the cycle of poverty and exploitation. No to child labour is our stance. Yet 215 million are in child labour as a matter of survival. A world without child labour is possible with the right priorities and policies: quality education, opportunities for young people, decent work for parents, a basic social protection floor for all. Driven by conscience, lets muster the courage and conviction to act in solidarity and ensure every childs right to his or her childhood. It brings rewards for all. Juan Somavia, ILO Director-General

REFERENCES INTERNET www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/labourctr/childlabour/about/what-is-child-labour.html www.ilo.org/ipecfacts/lang-en/childlabour.html www.ngrguarrdiannews.com/.../135617-child-labour-on-the-rise-in-nigeria.html