10 Countries with the Highest Rates of Child Labour

Child labour is work done by children which harms them or exploits them in some way, either physically, mentally, or morally (e.g blocking access to education, which they have a right to). The map above lists ten locations with the highest rates of the worst kinds of child labour. Under each location, it states the amount of children in that country estimated to be in child labour, as well as the most common types of labour in said country.

Child Labour:

Although it may be prohibited, child labour is still a socially acceptable and very large problem. 197 countries still have reports of child slavery and child labour, in some places, children starting as young as five. But why? Many families who are in poverty opt to sell their children into slavery to pay off their debt. Others don;t have a choice. Child labour is a breech of children's human rights. It robs them of their freedom and education, forcing them to work in dangerous and sometimes lethal conditions, just for mistakes that they didn't make Child labour is a massive problem, and something needs to change.

Not only does child labour deprive children of their right to education, but it can also be extremely dangerous. For example, mining. In Tanzania, there are eight-year-old children going down into mines, up to seventy metres deep, and inhaling toxic gasses for hours on end. They work with mercury, which if accidentally consumed can cause problems in their nervous system, digestive system, and immune system. It can severely damage their lungs and kidneys, and in worst case scenario, kill them. That's not even including day-to-day accidents. Mines tend to collapse, which can and has trapped the children working inside, and crushed them. Mining is only one of the only deadly forms of labour, proving my point that child labour is extremely dangerous.