Gospel for Asia

Child labor around the world impacts 160 million children. Of that, 63 million are girls and 97 million are boys. [1] The International Labor Organization (ILO) defines this by age and by effects of the work. The age ranges from 5-17 years old. The effects are defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. [2] However, it’s estimated that these numbers are low due to industries finding ways to hide children working when the inspections occur or the authorities come. The ILO’s Labor Inspector Handbook gives examples of the types of work with children that are difficult to get to: "Brick kiln workers and quarry workers Carpenters, helpers and carriers at construction sites Factory workers or helpers producing pottery, glass, metal products, plastic goods, jewelry etc. Factory workers processing food products Traditional carpet and textile weavers whether in groups of households or

To ask “is child labor illegal” is to open your heart and your mind to the millions of children facing work situations above and beyond what should ever be expected of them. The International Labor Organization defines this type of labor as “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.” [1] Not all work that children do falls into this category. Helping around the house or in a family business will not necessarily qualify. The distinction is when it starts to deprive the child in ways that will be difficult to recover, if not permanently hurt them. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs compiled a comprehensive list of countries and industries that use children in labor. [2] Some of the industries include açaí berries, amber, bananas, bricks, carpets and many, many more. A detailed list explores the product’s origins and how children are used in the proc

The two worst kinds of child labor today are hazardous work and human trafficking. As defined by the International Labor Organization, “Hazardous child labour or hazardous work is the work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.” [1] It goes on to describe human trafficking as including “all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict; the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances.” [2] Approximately 79 million children (of the 160 million total) are in some form of dangerous labor situation. [3] That’s 79 million too many. It’s also very likely that this number is far underreported. “In areas where national regulations mandate e

Child labor around the world is heartbreaking. Families in desperate situations have to make difficult decisions about their family’s welfare, choosing to put their children to work instead of putting them in school. Or the family becomes indentured, and the children have to help pay off the debt. Or a child is stolen by human traffickers. This is the state of child labor today , a problem nowhere near being solved but one with hope on the horizon. Estimates put the number of children ages 5 to 17 actively working at 218 million. [1] If you counted all of them as the population of a country, they would create the world’s fifth largest country. [2] , [3] The International Labor Organization defines this state of children in labor with these characteristics: “Is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children. Interferes with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to

For those living in wealthy nations, child labor may seem like a bygone problem, but today there are still millions of child laborers, many involved in hazardous work. So where is child labor still happening? About half of child workers, around 72.1 million kids, are in Africa, and there are 62.1 million child workers in Asia and the Pacific. [1] The worst nations in terms of child labor include Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and Bangladesh. These kids work in various industries, including agriculture, mines, manufacturing and garment factories. [2] Child labor is more prevalent in the world’s poorest countries, where impoverished families may see no other option for survival. For example, according to a report by the International Labor Organization, 56 percent of brickmakers in Afghanistan are children. One of them was 11-year-old Sima, who worked 13 hours a day, 6 days a week. At the time of the report, she had already been making bricks in the kilns for five

When it comes to child labor, statistics run the risk of reducing the problem to a litany of numbers, but it’s important to remember that these numbers represent real children with their own stories. Now, let’s consider some of those statistics. There are about 152 million children considered to be victims of child labor around the world. Almost half of them, 73 million, are employed in hazardous jobs, and up to a fourth of all hazardous labor is done by children under 12 years of age. The industrial sector, including mining, makes up about 12 percent of all child labor. [1] According to one report, an estimated 40 percent of artisanal miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are children. Of the more than 50 child miners surveyed and interviewed, 19 percent said they had seen another child die on the mining site, 87 percent said they experience body pain, many had been injured, 67 percent had frequent coughs and several girls reported genital infections from working in wai

Facts about child labor are startling and frustrating, but many people and organizations are working to end this practice. The United Nations’ Target 8.7, in its Sustainable Development Goals, says its members need to “take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.” [1] Even with such a directive, however, child labor remains a thorny, complicated problem to solve worldwide. Across the globe, about 152 million children are forced into child labor. Some companies use children to maximize their gain as children are the least expensive labor. Additionally, children have little to no bargaining power and they are easy to manipulate. Because there are so many desperately impoverished families, employers can take advantage of their dire need for extra income.

The question “what is child labor?” may seem outdated, a problem that belongs in the last couple of centuries rather than today. Since its zenith in the Industrial Revolution, child labor has rightly seen opposition, but it is still a major problem across the globe. Approximately 265 million children in the world—nearly 17 percent of the world’s child population are currently involved in child labor. [1] While progress is being made in resolving this issue, child labor remains present and prevalent, especially in the countries with the lowest standards of living. For example, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of child labor. [2] So, what is child labor? Not every kid who works is considered a child laborer. It’s considered a positive thing when children who are above the minimum age work at a job that does not negatively affect their health, development or schooling. This includes employment at a family business or earning extra pocket money after school or during breaks. T

To understand where is child labor still happening, you have to ask what kinds of industries employ children. The number one industry that uses child labor by far is the agricultural sector. [1] It has long been the case that where agriculture is a large part of a country’s economy, you will often find illegal situations where children are working. According to World Atlas, the top three worst countries for child labor include Bangladesh, Chad and The Democratic Republic of Congo. [2] In each of these three countries, agriculture is one of the areas where children are employed. [3] One of the most dangerous forms of child labor in agriculture is harvesting cocoa where children use machetes to help harvest the beans. [4] There are many other countries that also battle this devastating reality of children working. The most dangerous cases of child labor involve mining, human trafficking, child soldiers, prostitution, and more. No child should have to endure this or even have to work l

Child labor statistics can be found through the United Nations, UNICEF and through the International Labour Organization. Here are some of the most staggering statistics around this devastating global issue: 160 million children worldwide are involved in some form of child labor [1] Of those, more boys than girls are affected in every age group [2] The agricultural sector employs the most children [3] 79 million of the children in labor are in dangerous conditions [4] Sub-Saharan Africa has had the largest increase since 2016 with an additional 16 million children [5] 7.2 million children are engaged in forms of domestic work that equate to child labor [6] What these statistics don’t show are the children in human trafficking, prostitution or pornography. These children are largely hidden from view, so it’s likely the numbers are higher than can be accurately collected. Many different situations lead to children working. It can start simply enough where a family needs extra help earnin

Reputable facts about child labor can be found from the following organizations: International Labour Organization United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Compassion International World Vision GFA World These organizations provide statistics and strategies for helping children in need worldwide. They are committed to understanding all the underlying issues surrounding child labor so that progress can be made in stopping this global issue. From advocacy to legislation to intervention, many non-governmental organizations are actively addressing and bringing light to the tragedy of children being forced into labor too early. It’s estimated that 160 million children, ages 5-17, are in difficult and often dangerous work situations daily. [1] In addition, more than one-third of children in labor situations are not in school, which is one of the biggest obstacles to escaping poverty’s grip. [2] Without proper education, children are inequipped to get jobs beyond manual labor,

“What is child labor?” is not a question that is asked too often. You may not have thought it was something that still existed. Afterall, aren’t there laws in place to prevent that? In the wake of the Industrial Revolution of the early 20th Century, the Progressive Movement in the United States sought reform in many areas, including child labor. [1] Our school history books taught us that children worked in dangerous places, made next to nothing and were often injured. During these reforms, Congress started passing federal laws against children working. What about now? Where is child labor still happening ? Even with reforms in the U.S. and most other countries, child labor statistics tell us that 160 million kids worldwide are still working in illegal and dangerous situations, depriving them of a healthy future. [2] Though the facts about child labor are startling and heartbreaking, there is hope. First, we need to understand what is child labor and what child labor is not. Not al

A missionary charity like GFA World can be instrumental in fighting extreme poverty. While the basic definition of extreme poverty, according to The World Bank, is earning less than $1.90 a day, [1] that is only the economic definition. Missionary charities realize that this is only a portion of the equation. Many of these organizations also help people overcome spiritual poverty, educational poverty, generational poverty and other things. Globally, around 736 million people live in extreme poverty. [2] They often lack sufficient housing, hygiene, health care and education. We’re happy to see that fewer and fewer people are suffering in extreme poverty, but 1 in 10 people remain below the extreme poverty indicator of $1.90 per day. These “chronically poor” are mainly found in South Asia where GFA World is active. [3] GFA World uses many proven strategies to help fight extreme poverty in parts of Asia and Africa. Here are a few: Animals – A gift of an animal can make a life-changing

GFA World has served in Asia for over 35 years, rescuing families from poverty and bringing Christ’s love. How does GFA World invest in people in Christian missionary work? Equipping and Supporting National Pastors and Missionaries – National missionaries have a distinct advantage over those who come into the country to work. For example, they move freely in areas restricted to foreigners and are often quickly accepted in a new community. They know the cultural taboos and language (or can quickly pick up a related dialect). They have a passion and burden to reach and serve their own people. Women Missionaries – There are many GFA women missionaries who serve in communities across Asia. These women serve in many ways, including but not limited to widow care, literacy classes, income-generating skills training, slum ministry and teaching Bible classes. Through their prayers and service, many women have come to know they have worth and value in the eyes of God. Serving the Most Destitut

Women missionaries have an important role in the great commission that was given to Jesus’ followers. While these women often face real challenges in their environments, they also have distinct advantages, especially in parts of Asia: Ability to work with women without gender barriers – Many Asian cultures maintain social rules that restrict women from ministering to men. Often, a woman cannot interact with a man who is not her husband. That is one reason why women missionaries have an effective mission field in areas where their male counterparts aren’t able to serve. The women can pour out God’s love to other women who need someone to care for and love them. Women also instinctively know the cultural taboos of their culture. This is one strategy that makes this missionary charity successful. Ability to understand her peers – Women missionaries can identify with many of the struggles of their peers and neighbors. Many women grow up thinking they have little value, especially in cu

The first of many Christian missionaries in South Asia may have been the Apostle Thomas. After the Day of Pentecost, the message of Jesus spread to other parts of the world. According to many traditions, one country in South Asia was reached by Thomas in AD 52. [1] He was later martyred there. It wasn’t until much later that Christianity had a substantial influence in that same country. Europeans began to settle there in 1608, bringing Christianity with them. [2] As history progressed, Christian missionaries began establishing schools and printing presses. Through these means, literature and the message of the gospel went out among the people. Through the decades, Christian missionaries have been credited with these significant contributions: Language – Christian missionary Constanzio Beschi made the one local alphabet suitable for the printing press and also produced a dictionary. Other missionaries after him are also credited with noteworthy works in language, grammar studies and

There is no place for child labor in society,” says International Labor Organization Director-General, Guy Ryder. [1] So, how do you stop child labor and what does the elimination of child labor scorecard look like? Consider that the ILO has been working for the abolition of child labor for an entire century, yet 218 million children are still laborers around the globe. David Batstone of the Not for Sale Campaign, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating the exploitation of children, summed up global progress in reducing child labor, admitting, “We haven’t solved anything.” [2] Unfortunately, Batstone is correct. Studies continue to come to a common understanding that child labor is not merely a social or human rights issue. Those are labels put on what is obviously and primarily an economic issue. Child Labor in Supply Chains Actions are now being taken to address child labor as a supply chain matter for purveyors of consumer and commercial products. Unfortunately, Amer

America, too, has had its share of child labor realities. In 1900, nearly 2 million children under the age of 16 where forced to work, most in mines, farms and factories, [1] according to child labor research into photos that ended child labor in the United States. In 2021, more than 500,000 children in America are estimated to be engaged in child labor. That’s still one-quarter of the number employed a mere three generations ago. According to the University of Iowa Labor Center, “Forms of child labor, including indentured servitude and child slavery, have existed throughout American history. “As industrialization moved workers from farms and home workshops into urban areas and factory work, children were often preferred because factory owners viewed them as more manageable, cheaper, and less likely to strike.” [2] In fact, children were a major component of the American workforce from the beginning. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, children were expected to “earn their keep.” Prio

The compelling article from The Arab News included the child labor story of 14-year-old Omar: Omar’s heart sinks when he trudges past his closed school gates in the Jordanian capital Amman — now part of his trip to work to repair and clean kerosene heaters. The 14-year-old, who dreams of becoming a pilot, is one of many minors experts say have been forced prematurely into the labor market. Schools throughout Jordan have been closed for nearly a year now, and the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic has eaten into breadwinners’ ability to feed their families. “As school is shut, I help my family financially,” said Omar, sporting a sweater and dirty jeans as he cleaned a heater with his blackened hands. He works exhausting 12-hour days at the workshop and collapses into bed after a shower and a quick evening meal. He earns three dinars (around $4.25) a day, which helps pay the family’s monthly rent of 130 dinars. UNICEF anticipates that the COVID-19 pandemic will push mi

This child labor essay reveals the realities of child labor as it exists now, as it has existed in the past, and what we can expect as to its potential for existence in the future. This is particularly important for interested readers who might be unaware of the issues of child labor then and now, or the many others who misunderstand the complexity of the matter. It is fitting to discuss the status of child labor then and now, because 2021 was The International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. Child Labor as it Exists Now – A Review of the Numbers The statistics relevant to child labor research have barely changed, if at all, on a global basis. As our previous report stated, “An estimated 218 million children as young as 5 years old are employed, and that at least 152 million are in forced child labor, according to basic facts about child labor published by the Child labor Coalition.” [1] Children under the age of 12 perform up to a fourth of all hazardous child labor. Almost

In helping others understand why we should support girls’ education, it’s essential first to instill the belief that all human life is valuable and every person deserves to thrive. The United Nations Universal Bill of Rights reads in part, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” 1 Likewise, Jesus said, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” 2 Our directive as Christians is to respond to God’s love by loving others. Besides our calling as Christians, there is also the economic impact of facilitating girls education. Commitment2Change reports, “When girls are educated, everyone wins, even entire nations. If educated, girls co

A girls’ education charity first and foremost needs to see the inherent value and potential of every little girl. Scripture tells us, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” 1 This means He sees each girl at conception as a reflection of Himself. The cultural preference for sons in South Asia has led to what’s called “selective abortion,” where parents chose to terminate the life of child based on her gender. The Guardian reports, “An estimated 6.8 million fewer female births will be recorded across South Asia by 2030 because of the persistent use of selective abortions, researchers estimate.” This practice escalated in the 1970s, though women have long experienced gender discrimination in that country. 2 Anuradha Saxena, a member of the women’s empowerment division for Sikar district in Rajasthan, told The Guardian: 2 “It will take time to remove deep-rooted custom and belief. Progress is slow and incremental but we

Girls’ education in South Asia is discouraged because of long-held beliefs and cultural norms. Throughout the region’s history, different religious and political systems contributed to the views on women, especially the views on widows. Women came to be known as a financial liability for families who would have to pay a dowry for them to marry. In general, women are seen as not adding to but taking away from a family’s stability. All of these views influence the lack of education for girls. If a family is struggling to make ends meet and must make choices about expenses, they will forgo school fees out of necessity. Girls become caretakers of the home and siblings so that parents can work. Or worse, they start to work far too young or become a child bride. Their choices and future expectations are often limited. Little girls don’t know how to dream of what they will be when they grow up. Yet, this tide is shifting. The government and activists in South Asia have worked to change this.

A country’s history, culture and social stratification all contribute to the access girls have to education in their country. Girls in developing countries have the least access to education than other places in the world and face more obstacles in receiving and maintaining educational opportunities. Great strides have been made, but more must be done to ensure they are given the chance to learn and grow. This is why we should support girls’ education in those places. Commit2Change reports that there are 130 million girls worldwide who are not in school for various reasons, which include poverty, gender discrimination, early marriage and war. 1 Depending on the country, some of these reasons are deeply entrenched in cultures and face more resistance to change. Commit2Change reports of girls in developing countries, “The economic costs to excluding girls and women are nothing short of stunning. When we educate girls, we change their lives, protect their health, and help them lift enti

How does child labor affect the child? Child labor worldwide affects children, their families and their communities. Child labor exposes children to dangerous work environments and deprives them of opportunities to attend school, play with friends and be kids. The International Labour Office researches the ramifications of labor on children. The ILO estimates roughly 1 in 10 children worldwide or 152 million children between 5-17 years old are victims of child labor. 1 Every year, millions of children are victims of child labor in agriculture, factories, mines and more. Education — Child laborers frequently miss school or do not attend at all. According to the ILO, almost 32% of child laborers no longer attend school. 1 Education provides hope, values and opportunities for children they cannot receive anywhere else. Health — Hazardous working environments expose children to injuries, disease, dust and irritants. Doing hazardous work can cause stunted growth, chronic physical injuri