Child Labour Statistics: Concepts and Definitions

Challenges and Strategies in Improving Labour Statistics in Africa

Tuesday 23 November 2010

International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, ILO Geneva

Child Labour: Concepts and Definitions, International ConventionsDefining Child Labour (CL) . 1 For any country the concept and definition of CL for statistical measurement should take into account the national needs and circumstances. Therefore, the starting point for developing the definition of CL is : -National legislation (where available)-Guidelines provided by international labour standards/ ILO Conventions , international statistical standards and other international instruments

Resolution concerning Statistics of Child LabourDefining Child Labour (CL) ...2 The statistical measurement framework for child labour is structured around two main elements, namely: -age of the child; and -productive activities by the child including their nature the conditions under which these are performed , and the duration of engagement by the child in such activities.

The international legal frameworkThe international legal framework 1.ILO Convention Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)Applies:-to all economic sectors, and -to all working children whether - they are employed for wages, orworking on their own account. It is the most comprehensive and authoritative international definition of minimum age for admission to employment (that is, being at work).

The international legal frameworkILO Minimum AgeConventionNo. 138Requires a national policy for theeffective abolition of child labour(Art. 1)

Requires a specification of minimumage (Art. 2)

The international legal framework2.ILO Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour [WFCL], 1999 (No. 182)No flexibility clauses makes no distinction between developed and developing countries, and applies to all girls and boys younger than 18 years.Defined in Article 3 (No.182) as: (a)all forms of slavery, and practices similar to slavery, include debt bondage & forced labor, and use of children in armed conflict(b) use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, pornography, etc.(c)use, procurement or offering of a child for illicit activities, particularly trafficking in drugs(d)work that is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children

The international legal frameworkILO Worst Formsof Child Labour ConventionNo. 182 and its RecommendationNo. 190PRE-AMBULE OF CONVENTION: ..child labour is to a great extent caused by poverty and (..) the long-term solution lies in sustained economic growth leading to social progress, in particular poverty alleviation and universal education..A new global causeCalls for immediate action to eliminatethe worst forms of child labour as a matter of urgencyIrrespective oflevel of developmentof country

The international legal frameworkAll sectorsof economicactivityGirls and boysunder 18 yearsSpecial attentionto most vulnerable( like those very young, and girls )Worst forms ofchild labour asprioritytarget groupsChildren in illicit activitiesChildren inprostitution andpornography

Children indebt bondage andserfdom

Includingforced recruitmentfor use in armed conflict

Children inslavery, forced orcompulsory labourChildren inhazardous work (however, C182 doesnot define hazardous and leaves it to thecountries)

The international legal framework3. United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child, 1989Defines a child as an individual under the age of 18 years.[Note: All children younger than age 5 years are assumed to be economically inactive, so for CL analysis the age group 5-17 years is considered]Provides that children be protected from economic exploitation and work that threatens their health, education and development into a responsible adult member of society.

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 1 Age of a child: The target population of CL comprises all persons in the age group from 5 to 17 years, where age is measured as the number of completed years at the childs last birthday. National statistical offices may, in consultation with the responsible government offices for education, protection and welfare of children and adolescents, set the lower age threshold below 5 years if that is considered useful in the light of national circumstances. [Note: The lower age threshold should never be higher than the official age for entry into compulsory schooling.]

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 2Children in employment: Children in employment are those engaged in any activity falling within the production boundary in the SNA for at least one hour during the reference period. They consist of: (a) those in child labour within the SNA production boundary; (b) children aged 12 to 14 years in permissible light work; and (c) adolescents in the age group 15 to 17 years engaged in work not designated as one of the worst forms of child labour.

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 3Children in other productive activities: Children in other productive activities includes children who perform unpaid household services, that is, the production of domestic and personal services by a household member for consumption within their own household, commonly called household chores. In contrast, the performance of household services in a third-party household, paid or unpaid, is an economic activity and included within the production boundary of the SNA.

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 4Child labour: The term child labour reflects the engagement of children in prohibited work and, more generally, in types of work to be eliminated as socially and morally undesirable as guided by national legislation, the ILO Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). Note: Child labour may be measured in terms of the engagement of children in productive activities either on the basis of the general production boundary, or on the basis of the SNA production boundary but the measurement framework should be clearly specified.

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 5Child labour (contd.): For the purpose of statistical measurement, children engaged in child labour include all persons aged 5 to 17 years who, during a specified time period, were engaged in one or more of the following categories of activities:(a)worst forms of child labour;(b)employment below the minimum age, and(c)hazardous unpaid household services [where general production boundary is the measurement]. Note: Please refer to schematic diagram.

Denotes child labour as defined by 18th ICLS resolution Denotes activities not considered child labour

Age groupGeneral production boundarySNA productionNon-SNA production(1a) Light work3(1b) Regular work4Worst forms of child labour(3a) Hazardous unpaid household services1(3b) Other non-SNA production(2a)Hazardous work(2b) Worst forms of child labour other than hazardous workChildren below the minimum age specified for light work(for example, 511 years)2Employment below the minimum age for light workEmployment below the general minimum working ageEmployment in industries and occupations designated as hazardous, or work for long hours and/or at night in industries and occupations not designated as hazardousChildren trafficked for work; forced and bonded child labour; commercial sexual exploitation of children; use of children for illicit activities and armed conflictUnpaid household services for long hours; involving unsafe equipment or heavy loads; in dangerous locations; etc.Children within the age range specified for light work(for example, 1214 years)2Children at or above the general minimum working age (for example, 1517 years)2 1(3a) is applicable where the general production boundary is used as the measurement framework for child labour. 2 Age-group limits may differ across countries depending upon the national circumstances.3 Where applicable at the national level.4 Children in employment other than those covered under columns (1a), (2a) and (2b).

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 6Worst forms of child labour (WFCL): Defined earlier with Article 3 of ILO Convention No. 182 (C182)Based on national circumstances, countries may also wish to collect data on activities by children which are outside the general production boundary, such as begging and stealing, and which may be considered in the context of WFCL. Activities covered under Article 3(a)3(c) of C182 are referred to as WFCL other than hazardous work, and often also termed unconditional WFCL. [Note: Standardized statistical concepts and definitions for these CL forms are not fully developed. Statistical measurement methods are at an experimental stage.]

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 7Hazardous work by children: Activities covered under Article 3(d) of C182 3(c) are referred to hazardous work. These are defined as :(a)exposes children to physical, psychological, or sexual abuse(b)underground, under water, at dangerous heights, and in confined spaces(c)with dangerous machinery, or involves manual handling of heavy loads(d)in unhealthy environments that expose children to health hazards(e)under particularly difficult conditions (e.g. long hours), or if freedom confined

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 8Hazardous work by children (contd): Hazardous work by children is statistically defined in terms of the engagement of children in activities of a hazardous nature (designated hazardous industries and occupations) as reflected in paragraphs (a)(d) of previous slide. It may also be work under hazardous conditions, for example, long hours of work in tasks and duties which by themselves may or may not be of a hazardous nature for children (hazardous work conditions) as reflected in paragraph(e) of previous slide. Hazardous occupations for children are designated on basis of national laws or regulations, where they exist. Designated hazardous occupations for children may also be identified on the basis of recommendations from competent consultative bodies, such as, the National Steering Committee on CL.

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 9Hazardous work by children (contd): Hazardous work for children may be measured in terms of designated hazardous industries for children in countries that have prohibited the engagement of children in specific designated industries, for example, construction, and mining and quarrying. Long hours of work: When hours actually worked at all jobs during the reference period is above a specified threshold, that may be determined in terms of the maximum number of hours of work that the national law or regulation sets for children who have reached the minimum working age.

Statistical measurement of CLStatistical measurement of CL 10 Light work (permissible): Permissible work by children below minimum age for employment that is: (a) not likely to be harmful to childs health or development; and (b) not such as to prejudice childs school attendance, participation in vocational orientation or training programmes, or their capacity to benefit from the instruction received. [Note: A restriction on weekly hours of work is required for this age group, but the determination of the maximum number of hours is left to the competent national authorities. In its absence 14 hours per week limit may be applied.] Hazardous unpaid household services by children are those performed in the childs own household under hazardous work conditions, such as, for long hours, in an unhealthy environment, involving unsafe equipment or heavy loads, in dangerous locations, etc. The effect on a childs education should also be considered when determining what constitutes long hours.

2/*Conceptual framework of child labor(SNA production boundary)Forms of child labour

Global child labour measurement frameworkChildren in employment(5-17 years old)Para 12In otherindustriesIn otheroccupationsNot long hours of work(