India

Child Labor: an India's problem

In India, child labor exploitation is one of the most serious issues. Although the exploitation of child labor is illegal, millions of children are still forced to work in brick factories or mines. India has the highest rate of exploited children in the world, with over 42 million children not attending school and more than 10 million forced to work.

An astonishing 23% of the national GNP (Gross National Product) is derived from child labor: among these, 30 million live on the streets. In the Tamil Nadu region, one of the poorest in India, many families work in conditions of semi-slavery in rice mills or brick factories.

They live on-site in temporary shelters without electricity or sanitation. The children do not attend school but accompany their parents to work to help support the family financially. Millions of people live on just over a dollar a day: misery and poverty are the root causes of child exploitation.

The history of child labor in India is long and complex. During the colonial period, children were exploited in plantations and factories. After independence, industrial growth increased the demand for low-cost labor, perpetuating the problem. Although there are laws, like the Child Labour Act of 1986, change has been slow, and working conditions for children remain inadequate.

Large companies and international brands play an important role in this situation. Many of them seek to reduce production costs and sometimes turn to suppliers who exploit child labor to keep prices low. In the fashion sector, for example, there have been cases of companies discovering that their products were made in workshops where children worked.

Child exploitation in India has devastating consequences not only for the affected children but also for society as a whole. Children forced to work lose the opportunity for a proper education, which limits their future prospects and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. The presence of child labor in the market contributes to unfair competition, harming businesses that operate ethically and sustainably.

While there are positive initiatives, the reality is that many families, for cultural and economic reasons, continue to rely on their children's labor.

In recent years, there have been efforts by the government and various NGO (non-governmental organization) to combat child labor.