Children in hazardous work The ILO’s most recent global estimate is that 115 million children are involved in hazardous work. This is work that by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm children’s health, safety or morals.

Key messages on World Day New urgency is needed in identifying and tackling hazardous child labour Hazardous work is part of the larger child labour problem. Efforts are needed to scale up global, national and local level action against all forms of child labour through education, social protection and strategies to promote decent and productive work for youth and adults;

Key messages on World Day Action is required to build strong tripartite action on the issue of the hazardous work of children, using international standards and the experience of employers and workers organisations in the area of safety and health.

How is hazardous child labour determined? The main international standards on child labour are ILO Convention No 138, concerning the minimum age of work, and ILO Convention No. 182, concerning the worst forms of child labour and their accompanying Recommendations These important international standards provide that determination of which work is hazardous for children should be made locally. The standards require each member State to identify and tackle hazardous child labour.

How is hazardous child labour determined? It is up to the competent authorities, in consultation with workers’ and employers’ organizations, to determine what is hazardous in their national context. Many countries have now established lists of hazardous work for children, but many need to update their lists, and others have yet to establish lists.

What work is involved and what is the impact on children? ILO Recommendation No.190 gives guidance on factors to be considered in determining hazardous work. These include: Work which exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse; Work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads; Work in an unhealthy environment which may, for example, expose children to hazardous substances, agents or processes, or to temperatures, noise levels, or vibrations damaging to their health; Work under particularly difficult conditions such as work for long hours or during the night or work where the child is unreasonably confined to the premises of the employer

What do statistics tell us? 115 million children estimated to be in hazardous work  64% boy and 36% girls  59% in agriculture  30% services  11% industry There has been an increase in hazardous work among older boys (15-17)

What are some examples of hazardous work by children? In agriculture, children may be exposed to toxic pesticides or fertilizers, dangerous blades and tools, carry heavy loads and suffer from attacks or bites from animals or insects In mining, children may use poisonous chemicals, face the risks of mine collapse and sometimes work with explosives. In construction, children may carry heavy loads, work at tall heights and risk injury from dangerous machinery.

What are some examples of hazardous work by children? In manufacturing, children may use toxic solvents, perform repetitive tasks in painful positions and risk injury from sharp tools. In domestic work, children may suffer from different forms of abuse, long work hours and live in isolation away from family or peers. In scavenging or waste-picking, children may be at risk of infection from exposure to toxic chemicals and wastes.

How can the problem best be tackled? Governments must ensure that children below the minimum age are in education, and that children of legal working age are working in safe conditions. Improving the collection of data on children at work and occupational accidents and illnesses, including analysis of the sex and age of children involved; Awareness-raising, so that both adults and children recognise the dangers; Developing policies and up to date regulations to protect children; Promoting effective law enforcement through integrated labour inspection services working in concert with other actors; and Working with workers’ representatives and employers’ organizations to help ensure that work is safe for all

Building support for tackling child labour Governments must take a lead Employers and workers organisations can be strong advocates Civil society organisations can also play an important role

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