Economic uncertainty in Mexican households forced more than three million children to perform some economic activity during 2011, revealed the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
- Some 45.6% children combine work, school activities and performing chores at home, thereby limiting their overall development, which includes not only the acquisition of knowledge and skills through the school, but the time required for rest and recreation;
- One in four [25%] combines work and domestic chores;
- 15.3% work and study; and
- 13.8% work for a living.
"childhood is a fundamental stage in human development, so it is important to guarantee that individuals in this phase of life are minimally exposed to certain risks that can impair or damage their physical and emotional integrity."However, child labor is a global problem. According to the Third Global Report of the International Labor Organization (ILO) titled "Accelerating Action Against Child Labor", in 2008 there were 215 million child workers in the world. Of these, more than half (115 million) were exposed to the worst forms of child labor, such as work in hazardous environments, slavery and other forms of forced labor, illicit activities, including drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as their involuntary participation in armed conflicts.
Even worse, in Mexico a large proportion of working children and adolescents are outside the hours stipulated in the Federal Labor Law (daily maximum of six hours per day), plus they are not paid.
The INEGI revealed that, of all children and adolescents aged 5-17 years, almost a third (31.5%) have daily work that exceeds 35 hours a week, which limits their opportunities for recreational and leisure activities, aside from the fact that it is a factor that contributes to their dropping out of school.
Not only that, 4 of 10 children [40%] who engage in economic activities do not receive any income for their work, followed by those who receive one minimum wage [about $5.00-6.00 USD per day] (28.3%) and only 8% have an income greater than two minimum wages.
The picture is also bleak regarding the working conditions: Of all working children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years, 14.2% have had fatigue or exhaustion as a result of their day, and 4.4% reported having suffered an accident or injury at work.
Next, of the children who work and perform activities where they carry a heavy load, 25.3% mentioned having suffered back or muscle pain and 2.8% report wounds, cuts or fractures.
The place where children work is also a latent risk factor threatening the integrity of the child, especially when they spend most of their working time in a hostile environment without the protection of their family. This situation increases the risk of their being victims of physical or sexual abuse. In this sense, 4.6% of children between 5 and 17 years work at the intersection of a street or avenue, a situation that is more marked for girls of 5-13 years (8.7%).
The place where children work is also a latent risk factor threatening the integrity of the child, especially when they spend most of their working time in a hostile environment without the protection of their family. This situation increases the risk of their being victims of physical or sexual abuse. In this sense, 4.6% of children between 5 and 17 years work at the intersection of a street or avenue, a situation that is more marked for girls of 5-13 years (8.7%).
The INEGI declared that domestic work in general is among the least regulated activities, such that legislation is lacking and, consequently, low wages and inadequate social protection are seen. In the case of children, this situation is worse, since the children become hidden and invisible workers, which makes them more vulnerable to exploitation and more difficult to protect, as their situation remains outside the laws that guarantee their rights.
According to estimates from the International Labor Organization, globally in 2010 15.5 million children were involved in domestic paid or unpaid work activities in the home of a third party or employer, of which approximately 10.5 million are found in situations of child domestic labor.
In Mexico, of working children between 5-17 years, 4.1% work in domestic services ... .
There are many reasons why children start working in any activity; however, the economic situation in their home is usually one of the most important factors:
In Mexico, of working children between 5-17 years, 4.1% work in domestic services ... .
There are many reasons why children start working in any activity; however, the economic situation in their home is usually one of the most important factors:
- 27.9% of the working child population between 5-17 years declared that they perform work because their family needs their work;
- 25.5% work to be able to study and take care of their own expenses; and
- 13% are looking to contribute income to their household.
The activities in which they are engaged are diverse:
- 29.7% of working children serve as agricultural workers;
- 21% are industrial workers, artisans and helpers; and
- 20.7% are salespeople or employees of business establishments.