LONDON: The head of the UN’ body known as International Labour Organization (ILO) has disclosed that the future of millions of children worldwide is at risk as countless children are forced to leave schools for work, British media reported Monday.
ILO Director General, Gilbert Houngbo, has said the economic problems and worsening situations in regions around the world have increased child labour.
160 million children at risk: UN
According to a data prepared by the UN in early 2020 some 160 million children have been working. Houngbo, the former prime minister of Togo, said early data suggested the trend of child labour is still continuing.
He said a rise in living costs and increasing food and energy prices due to Ukraine have made the life of common man miserable. He added that those who are living below the poverty line have no other option but to send their children for work.
He added that worst kind of child labour is when parents put their children into sex work to help support their families.
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Houngbo added the rise in child labour is being noticed in low- middle- and high-income countries, and in areas including agriculture, mining and construction.
The circumstances in which the children have to work vary from country to country, but the UN children’s fund (Unicef) says inflation is the main reason that impacts children.
Natalia Winder-Rossi, director of Unicef’s social policy and social protection programme has said that due to poverty many families have to send their children on work.
According to Unicef data more than one in 10 families in Lebanon send their children to work. The country is facing a total collapse of its economy.
Houngbo in his views said that the situation is grim but the solutions could be found to overcome the issue. He said by focusing on education, creating jobs, and cracking down on illicit industries we can redress the problem of child labour.
