Not all work done by children should be classified as child labour that is to be targeted for elimination. The participation of children or adolescents above the minimum age for admission to employmentin 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 assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays. These kinds of activities contribute to children’s 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 society during their adult life.
The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.It refers to work that:
- is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or
- interferes with their schooling by:depriving them of the opportunity to attend school;obliging them to leave school prematurely; orrequiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.
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.
The worst forms of child labour
Hazardous child labour, one of the worst forms of child labour
2020 Global Estimates of Child Labour
Number of children in child labour
Number of children in child labour
Child labour is more prevalent among boys than girls at every age
Child labour is more prevalent among boys than girls at every age
The agricultural sector accounts for the largest share of child labour worldwide
The agricultural sector accounts for the largest share of child labour worldwide
Over one third of children in child labour are out of school
Over one third of children in child labour are out of school
Further information
Child labour: a textbook for university students
Child labour: a textbook for university students
Eliminating the worst forms of child labour: a practical guide to ILO Convention no. 182 (Handbook for parliamentarians, no. 3, 2002)
Combating child labour: A handbook for labour inspectors
Combating child labour: A handbook for labour inspectors
