What do we mean by child labour?

Children who carry out all kind of work which harm their physic, mental, intellectual and moral.

Child labour, why is it a problem?

For the child:

nIt denies fundamental rights of children, such as the right to go to school, the right to play, the right not to be abused.

nChildren's bodies are still growing and not yet fully formed. They experience poor physical health because the work that they do exposes them to the risk of injury or illness or is physically strenuous, such as carrying heavy loads or being forced to adopt unnatural positions.

n Children suffer more readily from chemical hazards and radiation than do adults

n Children have less resistance to disease

nChildren frequently work in environments that are exploitative, dangerous, degrading and isolating. They often suffer ill-treatment, abuse and neglect at the hand of their employers. Children may, as a consequence, find it very difficult to form attachments and feelings for others. They have problems interacting and cooperating with others and attaining a real sense of identity and belonging. They often lack confidence and experience feelings of low self-esteem

n Children are pushed into adulthood before they are ready. They do not have time to participate in activities that are a crucial part of growing up, such as playing, going to school and socializing with peers. They do not obtain the basic level of education that is needed to cope in life.

Immeasurable long-term costs to society

nChildren without education have no chance to change their fate of staying poor. Poverty may push children into work, but work at an early age will keep them into poverty. The welfare of the nation is at stake.
nChildren, who started working at an early age, may become physically unhealthy, emotionally scarred

Fact and Figures in Indonesia

Available Data:

nCentral Beurau Statistics (CBS): in 1999-- 1,5 million children aged 10-14 years are working

nILO-IPEC: 6-8 million children aged 10-14 years are working
Ad-hoc survey supported by ILO-IPEC: (survey on children aged 10-14 years) found that 50% children under 10 are working