Knowledge Base

What is Child Labour? Understanding the basics. Is all work done by children considered child labour? How do we distinguish what constitutes child labour? My mom asks me to put the laundry in the washing machine. She sometimes even asks me to cycle to the nearby shop to buy grocery. My dad makes me clean his car on the weekend and even walk the dog every day. I am being used as a child labour? The answer to this question is NO. Absolutely, not. Helping parents around the house, assisting in a family business after school, or earning some pocket money during holidays isn’t always harmful and can, in some contexts, even help develop skills and responsibility. Therefore, this is not child labour. According to the ILO, Child Labour refers to work that deprives children (any person under 18) of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and/or mental development. This includes: • depriving them of the opportunity to attend school • obliging them to leave school prematurely • requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. I will ask you a few more question and I want you to now answer whether or not its child labour: A boy named Ram is 16 years old. He lost his father who was the only earning member of the family. Ram has three little brother and sisters. Ram’s mother needs to be home to take care of them and that’s why he is sent to Delhi with his uncle and work at someone’s home. Will this be considered child labour? Sushma is 13 years old and stays in Mumbai. While both her parents go to work in a office, she is expected to stay back home to look after her brothers, cook food for everyone, wash clothes and run all errands. Is Sushma being used as child labour? Cobalt is an essential raw material used by large tech companies for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, electronic devices, and electric cars. Children is Congo are used as labour in these mines as the holes are very small and that’s why it’s easier to use children to extract the metal. Do you think Congo’s valuable cobalt industry is engaging in Child labour even though it helps the country gain valuable foreign exchange? Well, the answer to all of the above questions in YES. Child labour involves children being enslaved or forced to work due to family responsibility, separated from their families, exposed to serious hazards and illnesses or left to fend for themselves when the family is too poor to support. Whether or not particular forms of “work” can be called “child labour” depends on the child’s age, the type and hours of work performed, the conditions under which it is performed and the objectives pursued by individual countries. The answer varies from country to country, as well as among sectors within countries. So I urge each one of you to know the law in your country and take call corrective actions wherever you see volitation happening. You will be surprised, Child Labour is not only a phenomenon of poor countries, it’s quite prevalent in rich countries, though in hidden forms. By understanding the issue better and breaking the myths, we can take meaningful steps toward ending this injustice.

How to Identify and Report Domestic Child Labour in Your Community? Domestic child labour is one of the most hidden and neglected forms of child exploitation. It is so common and prevalent but no one wants to accept or talk about it. Even educated, urban families are using household helpers (typically under the age of 18) performing tasks like cleaning, washing, cooking, ironing or even taking care of their children or elderly. They would often justify by making statements like: “We treat her like our own family” or “We are giving them a better standard of living than where they came from”. However, even if treated kindly or getting them out of their poor household does not justify using them as child labour for their own benefit. You are still denying them an opportunity to get educated and have a normal childhood. Sometimes you will hear people say that “If we don’t employee them, someone else will”. This statement doesn’t make any sense. First you don’t employ them and then you discourage others for not doing the same. It’s a vicious cycle and it needs to be broken. Please understand, you are putting them in physical danger of working with stove/gas, lifting heavy items and working long hours. Children are not tuned for this work. The young minds are distracted, have shorter attention span, get overstimulated and thus increase risk of accidents. If you suspect child labour used in your neighbourhood, you can take following actions: Gather information discreetly: Try to find out the age of the child by looking for his/her ID information (like Aadhar card in India). Look for any signs of abuse or neglection. Contact local authorities: Every country has dedicated helplines where you can report child abuse. For example in India you can call 1098 Childline to report. Childs wellbeing: The Childs wellbeing while you seek help from authorities is most important. Therefore, provide them food/shelter while help comes their way. Don’t leave them isolated. Never confront: Your safety is equally important. I would suggest that you do not confront the employer directly as you could yourself be at risk Please note, you do not need to be a government authority, a person in power or an NGO to take action and bring justice to a an exploited child. Never say “It’s none of my business”. All we need to be is a caring member of the society to make a difference in the life of these little children. psible text is great for longer section titles and descriptions. It gives people access to all the info they need, while keeping your layout clean. Link your text to anything, or set your text box to expand on click. Write your text here...

What are the legal frameworks against child labour? Laws regarding protection of child rights in different countries differ; we will focus on Indian laws concerning children’s rights in this section. India has an all-inclusive policy and legal framework for protecting the rights of children while ensuring equal access to quality protection services. These laws are increasingly embraced as part of social development at large. Implementation challenges persist however due to lack of human resource capacity especially in prevention and rehabilitation services, leaving millions of children exposed to violence, abuse or exploitation. Here are some key pieces of legislation having bearing on child protection in India: •The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act (2000), amended in 2015; •The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006); •The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (2012); and •Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act (1986), amended in 2016).  Understanding and measuring child labour involves some specific criteria set by International Labour Organization (ILO). The ICLS framework for child labour statistics includes hazardous unpaid household services performed by children. The indicator captures household chores done by children aged 5-14 years old which takes 21 hours or more per week. Child labour is categorized according to the following: Longer Working Hours: A child who works for 43 hours or more each week is considered engaged in child labour. This threshold corresponds with adult working days, usually prescribed by national legislation falling between 40-44 hours per week. Hazardous Work: The number of these children working in hazardous industries all together or those engaging in hazardous occupation or working long hours determine the total number of children doing such dangerous jobs. Age-Specific Categories: Children aged 5 to 11: All kinds of work for children within this age group are considered as child labour. Children aged 12 to 14: Working at least 14 hours per week is classified as child labour. This serves as a dividing line between ‘light work’ that might be permissible and other forms of work, correlative to two hours daily over the course of a week, including both school days and holidays. These measures help to establish the final estimate of child labour covering all forms of exploitation on children effectively.

The Silent Struggle: Life of Underprivileged Children In the quiet corners of bustling cities and the forgotten lanes of rural villages, millions of children wake up each day facing a reality shaped not by dreams and discovery, but by survival. These are the underprivileged children—born into poverty, shaped by hardship, and too often denied the basic rights of childhood. The Many Faces of Poverty Poverty doesn’t look the same everywhere. For some children, it means growing up in overcrowded slums without clean water, electricity, or proper sanitation. For others, it means going to bed hungry, skipping school to work in fields or factories, or living on the streets with no protection from abuse or exploitation. In many parts of the world, underprivileged children lack access to quality education. Even when schools exist, they may be underfunded, unsafe, or far from home. Uniforms and supplies may be too expensive. Girls often face additional barriers, from early marriage to cultural expectations that they stay at home. A Childhood Lost to Labour Instead of toys and books, many underprivileged children are handed tools or baskets. According to the International Labour Organization, over 160 million children are engaged in child labour globally. They work long hours in unsafe conditions—mines, farms, factories, or on the streets—earning little or nothing. Often, they do this not by choice, but because their families depend on their income to survive. Begging, Exploitation, and Survival For some children, the only visible way to contribute is through begging. In many cities, they are seen tapping on car windows or sitting on sidewalks, hands outstretched. While some may appear to be independent, many are victims of organized begging rings or even trafficked. What the public often sees as a "choice" is actually a desperate act of survival, usually under someone else's control. The Psychological Cost Poverty doesn't just strip children of physical comfort—it eats away at their self-worth, identity, and sense of possibility. Underprivileged children are more likely to experience trauma, violence, and neglect. Many grow up without love or guidance, trapped in cycles of abuse or addiction, and haunted by the feeling that their lives are worth less than others. Still, There Is Hope Despite unimaginable challenges, underprivileged children show extraordinary resilience. A child studying under a streetlight, another selling flowers during the day and reading at night, or a girl walking miles to school every day—these are not stories of despair, but of determination. Organizations, governments, and individuals around the world are working to break these cycles through education, social welfare programs, and community support. But much more is needed. True change begins with awareness—and with action. What We Can Do Support child welfare organizations that provide education, healthcare, and shelter. Advocate for fair policies that protect children’s rights and end exploitation. Donate or volunteer at local initiatives that uplift marginalized communities. Educate others—especially young people—about inequality and compassion.