child labor

Consumers in affluent countries are appalled at the thought that soccer balls for their kids or carpets in their homes might be the products of child labour. Strong international human rights conventions are in place to outlaw the practice. But deep-set cultural traditions and impoverished economies do not respond readily to moral lectures from afar. Resistant to all but the most holistic development strategies, child labour shows no sign of becoming history.There were 218 million children working illegally in the eyes of international treaties, Child labour is defined as all economic activity for children under 12 years, any work for those aged 12-14 of sufficient hours per week to undermine their health or education, and all "hazardous work" which could threaten the health of children under 18. 126 million of these children are engaged in hazardous work, such as mining or handling chemicals, which is otherwise described as the "worst forms of child labour". A further class within this latter description is known as the "unconditional" worst forms of child labour which refers to prostitution, military enrolment, slavery , or trafficking . There is an additional category of "working children" not included in these statistics because the profile of age, nature of work and hours is not regarded as harmful. For example, light work of a few hours per week could be regarded as beneficial; "child labour" by contrast should be eliminated.