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Childhood is a unique phase in an individual’s life. However, people think of childhood in different ways, and this determines whether they think that children should do some kind of work.
Child labor, such as selling products in markets, can be considered harmless to the well-being of the child and was the norm in many parts of pre-colonial Africa. Child labor, on the other hand, generally involves a harmful and dangerous activity that can disrupt the child’s overall development.
World data shows that there are 168 million children in child labor: 32.1% of children between 7 and 14 years old. In the Nigerian context, the prevalence of children involved in child labor is estimated at 12 million to 15 million, which is one in four children. The International Labor Organization estimates that almost half of working children in Nigeria are trapped in child labor, with approximately 43% of children involved in dangerous activities. Socially acceptable work implies that children engage in activities that do not impede their development and are not detrimental to their health, development and well-being. This is different from child labor.
Popular notions have sought to link child labor only with domestic and agricultural work. But children in Nigeria are also working in extractive industries such as granite extraction and artisanal mining. Their work is also seen in the construction and waste collection sectors, where they collect rubble and decaying materials from landfills.
As a social worker, she wanted to explore the physical and health problems associated with child labor in Nigeria, from the perspective of children. This could point to implications for social policy and welfare strategies. I did a qualitative investigation in which I asked the working children to tell me about their own experiences.
Children were known to be in danger in four areas: carrying loads of goods and garbage, on construction sites and in factories, on roads and in all kinds of weather. The children talked about the ways they suffered as a result of their work. They said they had to continue because they needed to earn money. I believe that governmental and non-governmental organizations must do more to protect children from harm.
Child labor poses significant threats
For my study, I selected eight children between the ages of 7 and 14 who worked in markets, shopping streets, construction sites, and factories. The sample was small because the study aimed to obtain in-depth information. I was careful to obtain the duly informed consent of the children and their guardians. I interviewed them in their work environment to hear what they had to say about the realities and challenges of their daily life.
Two of the children described how they transport loads of merchandise and garbage and look for pieces of iron to earn money. One said:
My head hurts a lot because of my work… Work is more demanding for me when I am not in school. On those days, I carry loads to the market from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and then I return the money home. From then on, I go out to fetch iron from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Most of the time I am also asked to help fetch water for the house, some nights. At night it will seem as if ten people hit me because of the pain.
Another said:
Most of the time I feel pain in my head, shoulder and waist due to the load and waste that I carry. Bad water or waste substances are often spilled on my head through my body. Some time ago I fell in the rain … and I get sick regularly during the rains.
One boy talked about working on a construction site:
The work on the site is dirty … Some time ago a sharp iron pierced my hand, it was serious and painful … I have experienced leg injuries several times, as I do not have good shoes like ‘boots’ that can protect my legs for wounds.
Some children work as salespeople on busy roads. Some carry gasoline that they sell to motorists. One spoke of being hit by a car and said:
The areas that I sell the most are too busy with cars, it forces me (even my colleagues) to rush with moving vehicles, so I can sell fast.
All of these types of work expose children to heat, cold, and rain. They also spoke of fear and stress.
This work clearly poses significant threats to the safety and physical health of children, as well as to their psychological well-being and social development. Most are poorly supervised.
In a previous study, I found that injuries, stunting, illnesses, and illnesses suffered by working children have important links to long-term work, with constant exposure to unfavorable environments.
What should be done
Children’s work circumstances endanger their well-being. Urgent policies and actions are needed by government and NGOs.
Social workers, child protection networks and policy makers should harmonize efforts to ensure full implementation of the provisions of the Children’s Rights Act (2003).
Governments must also follow international guidelines on child labor; currently, the minimum age for work is below international standards. There is also a need for a comprehensive child protection system across the country.
Tracy Omorogiuwa does not work, consult, own stock, or receive funds from any company or organization that benefits from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond her academic position.
By Tracy Omorogiuwa, Senior Lecturer and Director of the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Sciences, University of Benin
