Child Labour in Africa - Research Paper Example

?CHILD LABOUR IN AFRICA Introduction After the creation of a new world order, a novel thought process came into being regarding mankind. It d that we are progressing step by step with increased advancements and extensive support of technology. However, in this race amongst states in becoming the most advanced and most powerful, we missed out on the harsh realities and the consequences of progressing which in contrast to the successes achieved are in alarmingly huge amounts. In order to understand the mechanics of child labor as a consequence of this fast paced technological world, we need to conduct an in-depth study of all the elements or variables involved individually. The foremost basic element is child labor itself and in order to hold a deep understanding of the term, a clear cut definition is required. Defining the phenomena To this date millions of children are working forcefully or willingly, under hazardous conditions which are not just harmful to their health and well-being but also to the innocence of their childhood. The innocence unknowingly seeps out of their souls as they choose a life in order to fulfill a role not yet meant for them. In the UNICEF Child Labor protection information sheet, child labor is defined as children that fall in the bracket of under 12 working in any kind of economic activity, children between the age of 12-14 engaged in any form of work that can’t be labeled as light work and all ages involved in the worst form of labor which are enslaved, prostituted, trafficked, forced into illegal activities or exposed to hazardous conditions (1). Further on, it is important to understand what is not taken as child labor; involvement in any sort of work by children which is neither having a negative effect on their health, personal growth not is it creating any form of hindrance in their journey for education (ILO & I-P Union, 14). For example a daughter helps her mother in household chores or a son assists his dad every now and then on the family farm. International Labor Organization Under the watchful eye of the United Nations, International Labor Organization initiated a program in the year 1992 known as the International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor. The goal of the organization was to eliminate child labor from its roots. Currently, IPEC has operations in 88 countries and with the help of different partners such as NGO’s, private businesses etc., it is making tremendous efforts to infiltrate the child labor swamp and clean it up (Wikipedia). Increasing concern of child labor With the help of different organizations, NGO’s, some powerful governments; Child Labor has turned into a heated debate and is one of the most important issues discussed all around the world due to the growing concept of globalization through which global communication was conceived. Yet, even with all the discussions, debates and awareness rising around the globe the eradication of the malice completely would take quite a long time. As discussed earlier, the new world order brought with it many different perspectives. Globalist would refer to it as a positive step towards solving the problem of collective goods, isolationist policies and others that were present before the cold war. While skeptics would come up with the argument that accuses globalization of being a system that has generated intensive competition between states in which labor and resources are exploited to a dangerous extreme. Nevertheless, globalization, liberalization of trade, transparency of economy and changing thought process of consumers is an extremely important reason as to why child labor has turned into a growing concern (ILO & I-P Union, 18). Africa- leading the world in child labor? In Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is a region that is accounted to have the highest percentage of child labor. International Labor Organization statistics present to us an astounding figure of 80 million that is a prominent 41% of children who belong to the under 14 age bracket are working (Andvig, Canagarajah & Kielland, 7). Like in many of the literature on child labor, Andvig, Canagarajah & Kielland emphasize on poverty as a major root of child labor (7). Africa is the poorest continent and therefore it has to deal with various consequences that stem from poverty; child labor being one of the many. However, it was further investigated that though under the burden of poverty, it would be illogical to place the entire burden of Africa’s child labor on a single variable; poverty. Comparatively, the majority of Africa is still rural based and household production remains to be an extremely dominating sector. When comparing Ghana and Ethiopia, Ethiopia turns out to be the poorer of the two. Therefore, child labor starts at an even earlier age than when compared to Ghana and correlated to that is the low percentage of enrollments in primary schools. From farming which is the most dominating sector of Ghana to herding which is an activity commonly adopted in Ethiopia; children in Africa could be tagged as know it all. Yet there are some who neither want to study nor do they want work and the percentage of such children is higher in Ghana. Therefore policy makers focus more on policies that are remedies of child labor rather than a broad vision regarding the topic of child labor. Thus there is more emphasis on the promotion of education and school attendance rather on the eradication of the phenomena known as child labor (Bhalotra, 6). It is a general perception that, children are the future of a country. Going ahead with the same notion, we can say that the future of Africa doesn’t seem bright at all when around more than a third of the continent’s children do not have the privilege of attending school and most of that percentage is working (Andvig, Canagaraja and Kielland, 3). According to the study of Andvig, Canagaraja and Kielland child labor is actually an issue concerned with labor by girls rather than of boys because the culture of majority countries in Africa consists of women working longer hours than men (8). As children cross their childhood and enter the period of being eligible to work, they opt for similar tasks being conducted by the same sex adults (Andvig, Canagaraja & Kielland, 8). Sonia Bhalotra, explains that the increase in child labor in Africa is attributed to war, famine and an alarmingly high risk of HIV/AIDS that has spread out in the continent like an incurable disease. Furthermore, the increase in children orphaned over the years has also contributed to child labor. All of the variables mentioned till now play a major role in making the solutions created for the issue extremely ineffective (5). While the problem of child labor is a rising issue in most of the developing countries, it has been noticed that recently a decline is in process in Asia and Latin America (Bhalotra, 14). Incidence is defined as occurrence or rate, and even though Asia is known to have the highest number of children working; Africa has the highest incidence of child labor. Importance of understanding the issue With the world advancing towards a more humane planet, it is only recently that child labor has been acknowledged as an issue of human right. The modern world focuses on the consequences of the advancement in all the fields it has achieved more and more. As time passes, awareness regarding squeezing resources, exploitation of resources, pollution, and water scarcity issues, nuclear waste, increasing population, deforestation and human rights is continuously increasing. It is now time for effective policy management to be implemented and monitored. Evaluation of the reasons for child labor and their consequences would be considered as a leap in understanding what policies are to be implemented for the issue? Why child labor? One of the reasons is mutual consent which exists due to Africa’s traditional culture practiced in majority of its countries. It has been identified that according to the African tradition the child isn’t stopped from stepping away from the family life and house if he/she is in anyway dissatisfied. Comparatively, majority of children working away from their families is higher in Africa than in other continents also facing similar child labor issues (Andvig, Canagaraja & Kielland, 11). Another reason which is given most points for creating child labor is poverty. In developing countries, to increase their income in order to survive the high inflation rates and feed themselves, parents send out their children to work. It is not a matter of torturing their child out of choice because they are sadistic; instead it is out of economic reasons or in simpler words a matter of survival (One World Guide). On the other hand, being poor is not the only factor that pushes a child towards labor. Expensive educational system and inaccessible schools are another reason why there are more and more children staying back at home and helping out in household chores or enterprises. School is a place where teaching is conducted, knowledge is imparted and an environment of learning is developed. However, the concept of school has turned into profit making organizations which are concerned with earning profits rather than imparting knowledge. The transformation in the ideology of creating a school has in turn transformed the process of enrolling students. Selection of students is based upon their ability to pay for the numerous expenses that would be charged periodically during the specific years of education. Less number of schools, deteriorating quality of education and teachers indifferent to the well-being of their students-adds to the issue (Bonnet, 376). Therefore it is quite obvious according to them, that school is nothing but a waste of resources and precious time which could be invested in activities with a much greater return- then why study? A toxic environment contributes as much to the creation of child labor as poverty does. A toxic environment includes natural disasters, conflicts, hunger, culture, traditions and socio-economic factors affecting the countries of Africa (Bonnet, 373). Statistics attested by UNICEF state that Africa is one of the continents which have the highest mortality rate of children under the age of 5. Mortality rate indicates a lot more than just what the term signifies, it sheds light on the lack of an effective health infrastructure, insignificant importance given to the issue by the government, and the indifferent attitude of adults towards the children. Coming to the gender biasness in child labor, child labor consists of a greater majority of boys working a greater share in the two industries; Agriculture and Industry. Services sector however recruits more female children than male all around the globe (ILO, 29). Conclusion Africa is a victim of the highest rate of child labor since it is a poor continent, the schooling system is weak and traditionally African families promote children working for domestic purposes or in home-run businesses. Famine struck regions of Africa lead the population into planning for nothing but survival. Their basic instinct is to survive and for that there is a dire need to send children to work and earn an extra meal for the month without which maybe they would have died. Apart from that, war and conflicts have brought about an increase in orphans who either live on their own or unfortunately end up in wrong hands. Ending up under a guardian who has selfish interests would obviously mean that the child would be forced into the worst forms of child labor; trafficking, prostitution, and slavery. UNICEF in its child protection information sheet offers an insight into how to build a safe and protective environment for children? The information sheet highlights the importance of commitment from the government and an increase in the capacity of welfare through which free education could be given. The report (UNICEF, 1-2) further identifies laws and regulations as another source of building a protective and harmonious environment for children. It is mandatory for laws to be present in a society that prohibit any form of child labor to exist unless it is not affecting the health, mental peace, personal growth and the education system of a child (UNICEF, 1-2). The report (UNICEF, 1-2) further specifies that there is a need to change customs and traditions. Open discussions and increased communication with parents will make a huge difference and make a great impact by brightening the future of Africa in coming years. Works Cited Andvig, Jens, Canagarajah, Sudharshan & Kielland, Anne. Africa Region Human Development Working Paper Series. Issues in Child Labor in Africa. 2001. Web. Bhalotra, Sonia. OECD Social, employment and migration working papers. Child Labor in Africa. 2003. Web. Bonnet, Michael. International Labor Review. Child labor in Africa. 1993. Web. International Labor Office, Director General. Accelerating action against child labor.2010. Web. International Labor Organization & Inter-Parliamentary Union. Eliminating the worst forms of child labor. 2002. Web. One World Guides. “Child Labor Guide” One World. 2011. Web. 29th November 2011. . UNICEF, Child Protection Information Sheet. Child Labor. 2006. Web. Wikipedia. “International Labor Organization. 2011. Web. 29th November 2011. . Read More