Many people know child labour
in its urban such as in the formal sectors (in factories or industrial
form) and informal sectors (working on the streets, working in the
house, etc). However, most working children can be found in rural
areas. Worldwide, but also in Indonesia, they represent about 70%
of the total number of working children. Most of them working for
the family owned plantation.
One of the most dangerous
occupations Occupational health and safety experts consider agriculture
to be among the most dangerous of occupations. The hazards children
face, include:
-Climatic exposure
-Work that is too heavy for young bodies
-Accidents such as cuts from sharpened tools
-Use of toxic chemicals and
-motorized equipment in more modern agriculture, usually without
the benefit of training or safety precautions
-exposure to organic dusts
Poor access to health facilities
and education In many countries the hazards and risks to health are compounded
by poor access to health facilities and education, poor housing
and sanitation, and the inadequate diet of rural workers. Primary
school enrolment rates are often lower for children who work in
agriculture. Even if children attend school, their long working
hours leave them exhausted and their studies neglected.
Legal protection Workers in agriculture, for example plantation workers, have
no labour rights at all. They work long hours, 7 days a week, without
any leave days. They usually are paid by the kilo of picked leaves,
or by rubber tapped tree. Children tend to assist their parents
to meet their daily target, but often are not registered as an employee
themselves.
Inspection visits are rare,
because: -the places where children work often are family undertakings
-the agriculture industry is geographically dispersed
Children working in agriculture
in Indonesia
Many children assist their parents
in agricultural family businesses. As long as the work is not hazardous
and they do not work too long hours, children under 15 work a few
hours and can attend school, there is no problem. However, many
children are used as an economic asset by their parents, they work
long hours, carry heavy loads, spray pesticides and do not attend
school. Another form is children assisting their parents as workers
in agricultural businesses of others, for example plantations.
NGO works together with Kyai
to remove children from work in plantations In the tea and rubber plantations in East Java, many children
work to assist their parents meeting their daily targets or earning
some extra money. In the rubber plantations children work in the
night to early morning to tap the trees. Most of them dropped out
of primary school or did not continue after. NGO Paramitra in Malang,
East Java, is supported by IPEC to combat child labour in the plantations
in East Java. Since the area is strictly religious and the people
obey their religious leaders, the Kyai, Paramitra managed to involve
the Kyai. Parents were convinced of the importance of education,
and an agreement was reached to send their children at least 3 days
a week to school. Next to the Pesantren, a special school building
was set up, to provide non-formal education and vocational training
to these children.
Exposure to pesticides Exposure to pesticides poses a considerably higher risk to children
than adults and has been linked to an increased risk of cancer,
neuropathy and immune system abnormalities
