Statistics launched by UNICEF and the ILO on June 10, 2021 estimate that the number of children in child labour has risen to 160 million worldwide – an increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years and the first time in 10 years that child labour is increasing.
The agriculture sector accounts for 70 per cent of children in child labour (112 million) followed by 20 per cent in services (31.4 million) and 10 per cent in industry (16.5 million). The number of children aged 5 to 17 years in hazardous work – defined as work that is likely to harm their health, safety or morals – has risen by 6.5 million to 79 million since 2016.
Against this backdrop and to mark World Day Against Child Labour, The Centre reached out to two children in Bangladesh who were formerly in child labour, but whose lives have since taken a different, more hopeful course due to their participation in The Centre’s child labour remediation programme.
These children’s stories highlight how companies with global supply chains can address and remediate child labour via a child-centred approach that focuses first and foremost on the children’s wellbeing – and not merely on corporate risk management.
Both of the remediation programmes that these children participated in were made possible by support and funding from the concerned buyers.
Watch their stories below, or via our Youtube channel.
Video 1: Update from Shimu, who did hazardous work in a factory when she was 14 years old.
Video 2: Update from Abinash, who had been out of school for four years when he was found doing hazardous work in a factory at the age of 15
Please contact us if you would like to know more about our child labour prevention and remediation services.
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