According to the latest data of the International Labour Organization, there are 218 million of children in employment in the world. Almost 70% (152 million) of all those children are in child labour, 64 million girls and 88 million boys, while others are engaged in permitted forms of children’s employment. On the other hand, nearly half of these (73 million) in child labour are children in hazardous work that directly endangers their health, safety and development. Same data show that 71% of all those in child labour are engaged in agriculture.
SeConS carried out research on child labour in agriculture in Serbia among children aged 5-17 years. Research is part of the project named ”Country Level Engagement and Assistance to Reduce (CLEAR) Child Labour”, realized by the International Labour Organization. The project is implemented in 11 countries with the main goal to strengthen national capacities to reduce child labour including its worst forms.
Research on child labour in agriculture comprised a combination of quantitative and qualitative approach in order to: a) collect data on the socio-economic status of children and their families, health, safety, education, etc., b) provide insight into the nature, pattern, distribution, dynamics and causes of child labour in agriculture in Serbia.
The main aim of the research was to provide data for development of recommendations for identification and prevention of child labour in agriculture, as well as necessary measures, actions and policy modifications that should contribute to suppression of child labour.