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Summary: Examines the plight of working
children & suggests solutions, but
acknowledges that child wages are
essential to many families. It is
argued that work can solve problems
& that stopping children from
working could worsen their lives. The
issue is how some children are
treated at work. The formal &
informal sector are examined, & long
& short term policies recommended.
Child labour has received much international attention in recent
years, as a form of child abuse that needs urgently to be brought
to an end. It is perceived to hinder the rightful development of
children, and particularly their education. In Zimbabwe, formalised
child labour is not common. Nevertheless, children in a variety of
situations have to work for their livelihood. In many cases
families, and the children themselves depend partly on the work
of children. Often the schooling of the children depends on the
income they earn.
Earning a life has been developed out of case studies of children
in informal trading enterprises, either helping their parents or
operating on their own account; children working in small-scale
agriculture in their family plots or the plots of others; children
working for their schooling in formal plantations; children in small-
scale mining enterprises; children in domestic service; children
involved in caring for ths sick and elderly.While all these tasks
take up time and energy of the children, and sometimes detract
from their schoolwork, there are also benefits that are achieved.
This is particularly so when children are the main bread-winners
for their families in the absence of able adults.
The important question we need to address is not the fact that
children work, but rather the conditions under which they work.
Stopping children from working for their livelihood is likely to do
them more harm than good. We need to prevent not the work of
children, but the abuse of working children.
Earning a Life is a book that will help us to understand both the
background and the context of this very important issue.
Owner: Michael Bourdillon