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As Labor Day weekend approaches, it signifies the end of summer and one last opportunity to enjoy the warm weather before the hustle and bustle of fall begins. While many of us may not take a moment to reflect on the origin of Labor Day, it is a federal holiday established by Congress in 1894 to honor the social and economic accomplishments of American workers and to emphasize the importance of safeguarding the rights, health, and safety of the workforce.
Even after 130 years, the necessity to protect workers’ rights remains, along with the urgent need to address a persistent issue: child labor.
This is an issue close to my heart, as I have been dedicated to combating child labor for nearly three decades. It all began when I was just 12 years old and launched a children’s charity called Free The Children, with a focus on liberating enslaved children forced to work in factories in Pakistan and India.
While progress has been made over the years, the statistics regarding the number of children deprived of education and subjected to hazardous work environments are still alarming.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are over 160 million children aged 5 to 17 engaged in child labor, with the highest numbers in the least developed countries where 23% of children are compelled to work. The agriculture sector employs 70% of child laborers, followed by services at 20% and industry at 10%.
Maintaining a direct correlation between poverty and child labor, it became evident that a comprehensive approach was needed to address the root causes of child labor. Simply providing financial assistance was not enough. Poor community health, lack of clean water and food access, inadequate educational opportunities, and limited employment prospects for adults all contribute to the unfortunate reality where children are forced to work.
To break this cycle, interventions addressing all these root causes simultaneously are necessary. Economic empowerment for parents can alleviate the need for children to work, while ensuring access to basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare creates a healthy environment for all community members.
Combatting child labor on a micro level within communities is crucial, but businesses on a global scale play a significant role in eliminating child labor from supply chains. Companies like IKEA and Costco have already taken steps to address this issue by committing to eradicate child labor from their operations.
Joining initiatives like the ILO’s Child Labour Platform, conducting due diligence audits in supply chains, and creating age-appropriate employment opportunities for young individuals are just a few ways companies can contribute to ending child labor.
While the fight against child labor may seem daunting, every effort counts in the mission to permanently eliminate this exploitation. As we celebrate Labor Day, let’s enter the fall season with a commitment to be part of the solution.
