Child Labour

Definition

Child Labour. Work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.

It refers to work that:

1. is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or
2. interferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

For the purpose of this definition, a child refers to a person under the age of 15 years, or under the age of completion of compulsory schooling, whichever is higher. Exceptions can occur in certain countries where economies and educational facilities are insufficiently developed, and a minimum age of 14 years applies. These countries of exception are specified by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in response to a special application by the country concerned and in consultation with representative organisations of employers and workers.