The coronavirus pandemic has put millions of children at risk of being pushed into underage labor, reversing two decades of work to combat the practice and potentially marking the first rise in child labor since 2000, the United Nations warned.
"As the pandemic wreaks havoc on family incomes, without support, many could resort to child labour," said Guy Ryder, director-general of the International Labour Organization. "Social protection is vital in times of crisis, as it provides assistance to those who are most vulnerable."
Advocates also warn that children are susceptible to being put to work while schools are closed in the effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.
"As poverty rises, schools close and the availability of social services decreases, more children are pushed into the workforce," said Henrietta Fore, executive director of UNICEF.
No comments:
Post a Comment