Child Labor and Protecting Young Workers Around the World: An Introduction to This Issue

Abstract

According to the International Labour Organization, more than 218 million children in the world today are involved in child labor, often doing work that is damaging to their mental, physical, and emotional development. At least 126 million children are performing hazardous work. For many decades, children have been recognized as a vulnerable population in need of and deserving special protections, as reflected in international conventions and national laws. This special issue of the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health presents research on child and adolescent labor around the world, focusing on studies that evaluate health effects from exposures at work; programmatic interventions to reduce work exposures or limit hazardous work activities; and policy mechanisms to reduce the negative health impacts from working too many hours, night hours, or in settings that are too dangerous and inappropriate for youth under age 18. The issue also includes a resource list and photographs of children at work.