COVID-19 may push millions of children into child labour: ILO, UNICEF

Millions of more children risk being pushed into child labour as a result of the COVID-19 crisis which could lead to the first rise in child labour after 20 years of progress, according to a new brief from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF released on Friday.

Millions of more children risk being pushed into child labor as a result of the COVID-19 crisis which could lead to the first rise in child labor after 20 years of progress, according to a new brief from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF released on Friday. The report titled 'COVID-19 and Child labor: A Time of Crisis, A Time to Act' says child labor decreased by 94 million since 2000, but that gain is now at risk.

Children already in child labor may be working longer hours or under worsening conditions, the report says. More of them may be forced into the worst forms of labor which cause significant harm to their health and safety. "As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labor," said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

"Social protection is vital in times of crisis as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable. Integrating child labor concerns across broader policies for education, social protection, justice, labor markets, and international human and labor rights makes a critical difference." According to the brief, COVID-19 could result in a rise in poverty and therefore to an increase in child labor as households use every available means to survive. Some studies show that a one percentage point rise in poverty leads to at least a 0.7 percent increase in child labor in certain countries.

"In times of crisis, child labor becomes a coping mechanism for many families," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. "As poverty rises, schools close and the availability of social services decreases, more children are pushed into the workforce. As we re-imagine the world post-COVID, we need to make sure that children and their families have the tools they need to weather similar storms in the future. Quality education, social protection services, and better economic opportunities can be game-changers."

Vulnerable population groups such as those working in the informal economy and migrant workers will suffer most from an economic downturn, increased informality and unemployment, the general fall in living standards, health shocks, and insufficient social protection systems, among other pressures. Evidence is gradually mounting that child labour is rising as schools close during the pandemic. Temporary school closures are currently affecting more than one billion learners in over 130 countries. Even when classes restart, some parents may no longer be able to afford to send their children to school.

As a result, more children could be forced into exploitative and hazardous jobs. Gender inequalities may grow more acute with girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation in agriculture and domestic work, the brief says. The brief proposes a number of measures to counter the threat of increased child labor, including more comprehensive social protection, easier access to credit for poor households, the promotion of decent work for adults, measures to get children back into school, including the elimination of school fees, and more resources for labor inspections and law enforcement.

ILO and UNICEF are developing a simulation model to look at the impact of COVID-19 on child labor globally. New global estimates on child labor will be released in 2021.