The International Labour Organization conventions (n˚138 & n˚182) require all states to specify the minimum age for employment. As a rule, this should be no younger than 15 years, with exceptions for some types of lighter work to the age of 12 years in some regions. However, and without exception, children under 18 years should be excluded from hazardous work, forced labor, commercial sexual exploitation, or illicit activities.(1) Yet, it is estimated that out of the 168 million children who mostly work as agricultural laborers, more than half are employed in hazardous work.(1) Production of cash crops, including cotton, relies heavily on child labor. It often includes tasks such as application of and exposure to chemicals, especially pesticides, handling of heavy machinery, and carrying heavy loads. The International Labour Organization’s Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (ILO n˚182) classifies all these activities as hazardous work. In addition, many children working in cotton production are denied an education, receive little or no pay, and work significantly more hours than those set by national legislation. Migrant child laborers are especially vulnerable to exploitation, and practices such as trafficking; bonded labor and serfdom caused by cotton farmers’ accruing debt are a sad reality.
CHILD LABOR
