The 2020 World Day on Child Labour placed the spotlight on heightening child labour amid COVID-19 related concerns of economic meltdown and increasing numbers of orphans due to massive fatalities resulting from the pandemic. While the slogan “child labour is a crime” is heard every year on 12 June, there are little sustained efforts to halt it, and the phrase soon diminishes like the ripple effect of a stone thrown in a river. This year, however, child labour needs to be debated more than ever before.
In warning about the apocalyptic consequences of COVID-19, Rick Bright, the former director of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in the United States stated that “[t]he year 2020 will be the darkest winter of modern history”. As the virus crossed the continents, the World Health Organization (WHO) on 30 January 2020 declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Further, the United Nations (UN) expressed apprehensions of an economic meltdown and complex social issues, besides the health emergency, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rising poverty, massive fatalities, and an increased number of orphans are core reasons for the expected spike in child labour amid COVID-19. Additionally, economic constraints have restricted the governments’ relief packages, further increasing the likelihood of exploitation of child labour.
DRIVERS OF CHILD LABOUR DURING COVID-19
Governments around the world, in line with WHO instructions, imposed “social distancing” to restrict the spread of COVID-19. To maintain the advised one-metre (three feet) distance and restrict congregation of people, the majority of countries imposed lockdown regulations, which not only restricted social interactions but also resulted in economic shocks. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) report 2020 suggests that natural disasters exacerbate poverty, and, in the case of COVID-19, more than 71 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty. Poverty is one of the main reasons for a child to become involved in labour.
According to the SDGs report, there will be a 20 percent decline in income and consumption around the world. Consequently, according to UN estimates, half of the world population of 7.5 billion people could plunge into acute poverty. The SDGs report expresses grave concerns that “the global gains in child labour are likely to be reversed for the first time in 20 years”. Further, the UN policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 on children estimates that 42 to 66 million children are likely to be affected by extreme poverty by the end of this year. A further UN study on the relation of poverty and child labour suggests that “when poverty goes up by one percent, the probability is that child labour will go up by 0.7 percent”. In this pandemic, the increase in child labour is thus inevitable.
Furthermore, in order to maintain social distancing, around 188 countries shut down their educational institutions in the early period of the pandemic, which left almost 1.5 billion children out of school. Children out of school are often engaged in multifaceted paid and unpaid labour which may continue even after the reopening of schools. Underscoring the implications of COVID-19 on learning, Save the Children published a report indicating an education emergency in which almost 10 millionchildren may never return to school. These lamentable circumstances further heighten the probability of increased child labour.
Another factor which will increase the risk of child labour is the COVID-19 death toll, which has reached 413,733 worldwide at the time of writing. The number of mortalities due to COVID-19 is greater among the population over 40-years-old. Such mortalities have far-reaching implications on the families of the deceased, as for many it means the loss of their caregivers, which also impacts their living standards. For many children who lose their main caregivers, education becomes a distant dream, and they may turn to labour to feed themselves. This also has long term negative implications on their growth prospects and earning capacity. Affected children also become easy prey for harassment and domestic violence. “Children in areas affected by conflict and disasters are among the most vulnerable,” but child labour impacts on the mental and physical health of all children at work.
COLLECTIVE GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY
A pragmatic approach to control the increase in child labour amid COVID-19 starts with individuals of society. Undisclosed and unpaid child labour constitutes a major workforce in times of crisis. This could only stop if the individuals themselves say no to under-aged labour. Secondly, owing to the pandemic complexities, countries need to revisit the strategies they follow to implement the policy framework designed to attain target 8.7 of the SDGs “to end child labour in all its forms by 2025”.
Disasters disproportionately affect the least developed countries, where economic losses are much larger relative to the size of their economies. In such an economic meltdown, it is nearly impossible for the poor economies to meet the SDGs goal of ending child labour. The crisis is therefore a global concern, and there is a dire need for relief packages to assist the families under the poverty line to reduce the chances of child labour. In this regard, the World Bank must step up with relief packages for the struggling economies.
Elimination of child labour by 2025 may be an ambitious target, but it must not be considered an impossible one. Children worldwide need the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) more than ever before. UNICEF should prioritise the establishment of an immediate relief fund to assist children worldwide. Although UNICEF and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are already working jointly to curb the effects of COVID-19 on children, the needs of the moment demand immediate actions. Strategies need to be revisited by all concerned authorities to make sure that the SDG target on child labour is achieved despite the pandemic. Altogether, the world must agree to act on the statement of the Director General of ILO that “[a]ll children have the right to be protected from child labour”.
Amber is studying for a Master of Philosophy in Public Administration. Her research interests include governance and management. Besides this, she is an writer and blogger particularly interested in writing about social issues, politics, governance, and international relations.