It is widely recognized that the total abolition
of child labour will take time. A growing international consensus
emerged stressing the need to immediately proceed with the abolition
of the worst forms of child labour, namely:
All forms of slavery or practices similar to
slavery, such as:
n the sale and trafficking
of children,
ndebt bondage and serfdom and
n forced or compulsory labour, including
forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict
The use, procurement or offering of a child
for:
n prostitution,
nproduction of pornography or pornographic
performances
nillicit activities, in particular
for the production and trafficking of drugs
Work, which by its nature or the circumstances
in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety
or morals of children, such as:
nwork which exposes children to physical,
psychological or sexual abuse
n work underground, under water, at
dangerous heights or in confined spaces
n work with dangerous machinery, equipment
or tools, or which involves the manual handling or transport of
heavy loads
n work in an unhealthy environment
which may, for example expose children to hazardous substances,
agents or processes, or to temperatures, noise levels, or vibrations
damaging to their health
n work under particularly difficult
conditions such as work for long hours or during the night or work
where the child is unreasonably confined to the premises of the
employer
(ILO Convention 182 and Recommendation 190)
These children cannot wait for longer term development
issues to be resolved before they are freed from their intolerable
situations.
Effects of hazardous working conditions can
be devastating
nBecause children
differ from adults in their physiological and psychological make-up,
they are more susceptible to and more adversely affected by specific
work hazards than adults.
n Because they are not matured mentally,
they are less aware of the potential risks involved in workplaces.
n The impact of carrying heavy loads
or being forced into unnatural positions at work can permanently
distort or disable growing bodies
n Children suffer more readily from
chemical hazards and radiation than do adults
n Children are more vulnerable than
adults to physical, sexual and emotional abuse and suffer more devastating
psychological damage from living and working in an environment in
which they are denigrated or oppressed
Examples
of worst forms of child labour in Indonesia
