Supporting children in their working lives: obstacles and opportunities within the international policy environment

Abstract

In this paper, the international policy environment surrounding child work is reviewed, in order to locate the emerging opportunities and persistent obstacles faced by development practitioners who consider working children as active agents, rather than subjects, of development, and aim to support the economic livelihoods of this population. Shifts in the child work–child labour debate are examined in light of the ways in which ‘childhood’ and ‘work’ have been constructed, and in the context of current understandings of the causes and consequences of child work. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Child work and labour among orphaned and abandoned children in five low and middle income countries

“…Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [14,15,24,25]. …”

“…While there are distinct and specific negative associations between some kinds of work, school attendance and performance, there also appears to be an overall difference in school attendance, performance, and dropout rates between children who work long hours exclusively in market activity as compared to children who work long hours on household and domestic chores. Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [ 14 , 15 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Child work and labour among orphaned and abandoned children in five low and middle income countries

“…Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [14,15,24,25]. …”

“…While there are distinct and specific negative associations between some kinds of work, school attendance and performance, there also appears to be an overall difference in school attendance, performance, and dropout rates between children who work long hours exclusively in market activity as compared to children who work long hours on household and domestic chores. Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [ 14 , 15 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Disputed meanings about child labour, its consequences, and interventions: discussions based on ethnographic research in Argentina

“…The group of child labourers is made up of both boys and girls, of different ages, from both urban and rural environments and who manifest a range of competencies, socioeconomic status, and cultural background. The reasons that children work, the types, and legality of the activities undertaken, and the institutions within which these activities are undertaken are also extremely variable, as is the extent to which a child is allowed to participate in decision-making surrounding their work (Moore 2000;Rausky 2009a). Critical scrutiny shows that there are several ways in which beliefs about the nature of childhood and child labour should determine the nature of interventions around the child labour question.…”

Influence of Education on Poverty Intergenerational Transmission from the Perspective of Gender

“…For example, Oscar Lewis, an early representative of the theory of intergenerational poverty, first proposed the concept of cultural poverty and believed that poverty intergenerational transmission is characterized by economic and psychological characteristics with various interactions. Moore K (2000) believes that family poverty is the decisive factor for children to work to increase their income [5]. Parents and family structure are significantly associated with the use of child labor.…”

Child work and labour among orphaned and abandoned children in five low and middle income countries

“…Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [14,15,24,25]. …”

“…While there are distinct and specific negative associations between some kinds of work, school attendance and performance, there also appears to be an overall difference in school attendance, performance, and dropout rates between children who work long hours exclusively in market activity as compared to children who work long hours on household and domestic chores. Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [ 14 , 15 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Disputed meanings about child labour, its consequences, and interventions: discussions based on ethnographic research in Argentina

“…The group of child labourers is made up of both boys and girls, of different ages, from both urban and rural environments and who manifest a range of competencies, socioeconomic status, and cultural background. The reasons that children work, the types, and legality of the activities undertaken, and the institutions within which these activities are undertaken are also extremely variable, as is the extent to which a child is allowed to participate in decision-making surrounding their work (Moore 2000;Rausky 2009a). Critical scrutiny shows that there are several ways in which beliefs about the nature of childhood and child labour should determine the nature of interventions around the child labour question.…”

Influence of Education on Poverty Intergenerational Transmission from the Perspective of Gender

“…For example, Oscar Lewis, an early representative of the theory of intergenerational poverty, first proposed the concept of cultural poverty and believed that poverty intergenerational transmission is characterized by economic and psychological characteristics with various interactions. Moore K (2000) believes that family poverty is the decisive factor for children to work to increase their income [5]. Parents and family structure are significantly associated with the use of child labor.…”

Child work and labour among orphaned and abandoned children in five low and middle income countries

“…Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [14,15,24,25]. …”

“…While there are distinct and specific negative associations between some kinds of work, school attendance and performance, there also appears to be an overall difference in school attendance, performance, and dropout rates between children who work long hours exclusively in market activity as compared to children who work long hours on household and domestic chores. Indeed, noted in the literature is a reasonable amount of non-market activity work (i.e., chores, light domestic work) is positively associated with better school performance, attendance, and perceptions of self worth [ 14 , 15 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Disputed meanings about child labour, its consequences, and interventions: discussions based on ethnographic research in Argentina

“…The group of child labourers is made up of both boys and girls, of different ages, from both urban and rural environments and who manifest a range of competencies, socioeconomic status, and cultural background. The reasons that children work, the types, and legality of the activities undertaken, and the institutions within which these activities are undertaken are also extremely variable, as is the extent to which a child is allowed to participate in decision-making surrounding their work (Moore 2000;Rausky 2009a). Critical scrutiny shows that there are several ways in which beliefs about the nature of childhood and child labour should determine the nature of interventions around the child labour question.…”

Influence of Education on Poverty Intergenerational Transmission from the Perspective of Gender

“…For example, Oscar Lewis, an early representative of the theory of intergenerational poverty, first proposed the concept of cultural poverty and believed that poverty intergenerational transmission is characterized by economic and psychological characteristics with various interactions. Moore K (2000) believes that family poverty is the decisive factor for children to work to increase their income [5]. Parents and family structure are significantly associated with the use of child labor.…”