Child labour: parameters, developmental implications, causes and consequences

Abstract

An examination into the incidence of child labour in developing countries will require an analysis of the reasons for its occurrence, which in turn will go a long way in indicating a possible route towards providing a solution. This article will clarify why child labour rather than child work in general is an issue for concern, submitting that it is the type of work that impedes the education and development of children that needs to be addressed. A distinction between the two prevailing motivations behind calls for developing countries to address child labour will be drawn, and the article will pursue that only the human rights motivation will provide the requisite cooperation and commitment in attaining sustainable and effective elimination of child labour. In analysing statistics that child labour occurs predominantly in developing countries, the article will reflect on current global trends to submit that child labour in developing countries can have a global impact. Considering the various reasons that have been attributed to cause child labour in developing countries, it will be demonstrated that poverty is a common element in all such attributes. In discussing the possible solutions, the article will submit that developing countries with child labour problems do not have the resources for the necessary intervention to tackle a problem of such magnitude and, therefore, international effort is necessary. Discussions on the international forum to coordinate these efforts will establish that a forum free of trade links is needed, thereby dispelling suggestions that the World Trade Organisation and sanctions-based approach is the best solution. The article will conclude that work should be undertaken building on International Labour Organisation standards, if such standards are beneficial to child development. The problem may lie in developing countries, but only global efforts can offer a solution.