Child labor is not only prohibited, it´s also characterized as a crime and companies and entrepreneurs play a leading role in this matter!

The celebration of this day is an encouragement for all nations to adopt solid norms and actions to combat child labor, such as the development of policies that protect the rights of children, regular inspections in workplaces and guaranteeing access for children the education.

Exploitation of child labor is common in underdeveloped countries and most often occurs due to the need to financially help families that are generally poor and have many children.

Child Labor in the World

According to the ILO (International Labor Organization) about 218 million children between 5- and 17-years old work in the world, of which 126 million perform very dangerous jobs.

The highest child labor rates are found in Asia, Africa and America. In India, approximately 14% of children between the ages of 5 and 14 are involved in child labor activities. As Asia is the continent with the highest rate of working children.

With the expansion of some traditional industries (textile manufacturing, domestic and artisanal industries) they require an intensive labor as they have the most delicate and thin hands, which facilitates the work mainly of textile and artisanal factories.

Child Labor in Portugal

There are no cases of high exploitation as in less developed countries, but 47 thousand children under the age of 16 work in Portugal in different areas.

The most credible estimate of the number of working children in Portugal is around 200,000, according to the president of CNASTI - the National Confederation of Action on Child Labor

We can all help with good practices to combat child labor! How?

Being a conscious company or entrepreneur

Much has been heard about scandals involving major clothing brands and food companies that use child labor.

This is a reality that companies, large or small, cannot ignore: they are responsible for their employees and also for the employees of other companies that are in their production chain.

Don't give alms and don't buy anything from children

Often, when we are faced with any of these situations, we do not understand the real meaning of the act of giving alms. Campaigns around the world are asking people not to give alms or buy anything from children. Giving alms perpetuates the cycle of child labor and generates effects such as dropping out of school, sexual exploitation and violence.

Report it

If you suspect a child is working, report it. Child labor is not always easily detected by authorities.

Whenever a situation of possible exploitation and child labor is detected, it should be reported to any police entity or to the labor inspection. It can also be done through ACT.

Being a conscientious consumer

Consumers can also collaborate in this fight, in the so-called conscious consumption. Just as companies are responsible for what they produce, consumers also have great power to choose.

Consumers even have the opportunity to define business policies, because when they boycott a company that uses child labor, they are acting directly to change the practice.

It is everyone's obligation to fight to eradicate child labor and guarantee the right to childhood and youth for all children in the world!

All children deserve to be children and have the right to play