Child rights
Child labour disrupts children's development, depriving them of education and harming their physical and mental well-being. It is prevalent in industries like agriculture and apparel, where children often work in hazardous conditions instead of attending school. Poverty, lack of access to education, and social instability are key drivers, with weak regulatory oversight in many regions exacerbating the issue. Additionally, child labour perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality, making it a persistent challenge.
Market-based initiatives to combat child labour include:
Defining child labour
Establishing clear guidelines to differentiate harmful work from acceptable activities.
Monitoring and enforcement
Regularly inspecting supply chains to ensure compliance with child labour laws.
Community awareness
Educating families and communities on the importance of education and the detrimental effects of child labour.
Improving access to education
Promoting policies that provide affordable education and address poverty.
Social integration
Tackling underlying issues, such as poverty and inequality, to reduce the root causes of child labour.