A TERM PAPER

ON
CHILD LABOUR
SUBMITTED BY
GROUP 5
NAME MATRIC NUMBER
CHUKWU HELEN 124072059
DAUDA BASIRAT 124072061
FARIMOYO SEUN 124072062
ILESANMI BISOLA 124072063
IRABOR RICHARD 124072064
NWUZOR JANE 124072065
ODEMUNU YUSUF 124072066
ODETOYE FUNMILAYO 124072067
OJO OLUBUKOLA 124072068
OLAIYA ADEOLA 124072069
OLUKOLADE JANET 124072070
OYEBODE TOBI 124072071
SALAWU MUYIDEEN 124072072
SHODIYA HAWAU OLABISI 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