Child Labor

Over the last two decades, countries have made remarkable progress reducing child labor. Since 2000, the number of children in child labor has dropped by 94 million. 

In many countries, governments provided families with cash allowances, so that they could meet their needs without sending their children to work. 

But the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is reversing that progress.

Families have lost jobs and income, and schools have closed.

In countries like Nepal, Ghana, and Uganda, children have gone to work to help their families put food on the table.

Many work long, grueling hours for very little pay, if they are paid at all.

Some work under hazardous conditions, handling toxic mercury to process gold, or suffer injuries from working with dangerous tools.

Once working, many children will never return to school.

But child labor is not inevitable.

Before the pandemic, cash allowances for families helped many countries reduce poverty and child labor rates.

Now, governments should expand cash allowances to help support families hit hard by the pandemic, and to protect children’s rights to an adequate standard of living, to education, and to protection from child labor.

Temwani, 11, Zambia: 2020 was a hard year. 

Annie, 16, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada: School was cut out about six months ago in November 2020, it is now April, almost May, 2021, so that’s six months. 

Zadie and Mika, 6, Canada: This is our school and we haven’t been here for many weeks. And now we do work online.

Vuyisenani, 17, South Africa : 1.4 billion students were shut out of schools in 190 countries because of Covid-19. 

Zadie and Mika, 6, Canada: Now we have to spend all day in front of a computer. And we can’t see any of our friends and teachers. 

Sesili, 7, Republic of Georgia: I hate online school. I want to go to school.  

Parwanai, 17, Ritsona Refugee Camp, Greece: This one is a container that we use to have it as a space for the children and for everyone to have access to some lessons.


Covid-19 showed us how unequal education is for kids around the world. And we will probably see the effects for years to come. 


Annie, 16, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada: Grassy Narrows is located an hour north/from the nearest city. We don’t have sort of schooling, no online, absolutely no school. Because internet is quite expensive.

Temwani, 7, Zambia: The introduction to online learning was a real struggle for me because I didn’t have the digital equipment such as a smart phone, a laptop or computer to access online school.

Vuyisenani, 17, South Africa: School was shut down for five months and we weren’t doing anything./Even before Covid hit, our schools were struggling. 

Parwana, 17, Ritsona Refugee Camp, Greece: We have been far from the school and education for years and even with no answer from the ministry of education in the pandemic and it made the condition of education in the camp very serious and critical.

Vuyisenani 17, South Africa: Kids around the world showed that we all have something in common: we want to learn and we want to work hard.  

Zadie and Mika, 6, Canada: Now it’s time for the government to do the work. Opening the doors is just the beginning. 
Narrator: Education should be at the core of every country’s recovery plans. 

Gor, 16, Armenia: Quality education should be accessible to everyone, including me. 

The holiday season is finally here. A time some of us plan to spend celebrate with family and friends.

Giving gifts this holiday may be even more special because the Covid-19 has kept many of us apart.

But since the start of the pandemic, more children are working in some gold and diamond mining areas because their families have lost their livelihoods.

Illegal mining has continued or even increased in some places because officials have reduced their inspections.

Mines based underground have become more unsafe because Covid-19 can spread easily.

Jewelry companies need to source responsibly. We are monitoring them.

All jewelry and watch companies need to ensure their supply chains are traceable, transparent, and checked for human rights risks.

Next time you buy jewelry, ask the retailer if they are sourcing responsibly.