Child Labor In Sub-Saharan Africa

With poor social conditions, ineffective laws, and weak economies, child labor will continue to transpire in Sub-Saharan Africa. As of the 21st century, Sub-Saharan Africa alone has about thirty percent of the world's child labor (U.S. Department of Labor). With relatively young and inexperienced population, the people are unaware and uneducated on the danger that children face in harsh conditions. Laws pertaining to child labor can prove to be futile in certain places like Monterrado County, Liberia, where no impact has been made regarding the children’s rights (“Liberia”). Since parts of Sub-Saharan Africa are considered less developed countries, their economy creates a dependence on cheap labor. Children "subjected to child labor are under

The northern region of Nigeria did not adhere to the laws since child labor has been integrated into their culture. In some cases, governments that are able to pass regulations do not have significant impact. For instance, Liberia’s Labour Law Section 74 forbids children under 16 years old to work during school years; however, child labor is still ongoing("Dissecting”). Although the Liberian government is aware of the situation, they wish to improve the situation, but their course of action has been called “limited and feeble” by many (“Liberia”). Moez El Cherif of the Tunisian Association for the Defense of Children's Rights states that “It is not enough to pass laws that claim to protect the rights of children - it is essential to put them into practice." With minimal government efforts, Sub-Saharan Africa faces a lack of attention regarding child labor, but others cannot break away from the traditional practices of child

In reality, many Sub-Saharan countries lack a registry of birth certificates which is vital for school enrollment, graduation, and social services for the children (U.S. Department of Labor). Without proper documentations, families are exposed to consequences that can turn their child away from a proper education. This illustrates how officials are not able to monitor those within their countries, and the nations are not able to provide safety nets for their citizens. Furthermore, Sub-Saharan Africa relies heavily on the traditional uses of cheap child labor, which constitutes a vicious cycle. With a lack of education, poor adult wages, and the desire to reach old age, many households favor large families to secure longevity (Basu). If unrestricted, the short-term planning is most likely passed on to the next generation, encouraging the use of child labor. On the other hand, child labor can be a factor out of families’ control. Often enough, young children are abducted by traffickers and neighboring countries (Food Empowerment Project). With the continuation of secret operations, it’s difficult to find the source of child labor and to shut it down. Moreover, child labor is seen as a social norm (Basu). Despite the dangerous working conditions and the lack of education, such traditional beliefs do not justify the use of child labor because it can turn children away from