Futures and Innovation

Futures and Innovation

Introduction

Children are often made to aid their families and friends at all ages, however these small jobs are not harmful to the children and they are not exploited in any way to do this work, for example daily chores. This is ethically and morally wrong, but nevertheless a continuing problem. United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has found that one in six children is involved harmful and exploitative work; this is defined as child labour. These children are ‘engaged in economic activity or in household chores for more than 28 hours in a week' (UNICEF. 2011).

Child labour is a major global issue, with ‘an estimated 158 million children aged 5-14 engaging in child labour' (UNICEF. 2011). Organisations employ children to work in unfit environments and hazardous conditions, for example working in mines and many children are employed to work in agriculture where they are surrounded by dangerous chemicals used in pesticides and forced to operate the dangerous agricultural machinery. One of the main areas of employment is often the most overlooked; domestic employment. Children are employed to work within houses to do domestic chores, but entirely overworked. ‘Child labour not only prevents children from acquiring the skills and education they need for a better future, it also perpetuates poverty and affects national economies through losses in competitiveness, productivity and potential income.' (IPEC, 2011)

Globally the dominating child labouring areas are Africa and Asia, with roughly 113 million children engaged in child labour (Figure 1) (UNICEF. 2011). The challenge in fighting child labour globally, is that the main parts of the world that conduct the most child labour are the lesser developed parts of the world, where it is a survival necessity for the children to be put into this kind of employment.

Technological Issues

Technological change has a huge impact on Child Labouring issues globally, as advances in communications and technologies ‘underline the integration of financial markets and permit the division of production processes throughout the world' ( ILOCARIB, 2011). Technological change can immensely help this programme, as through technology there is ‘great potential to aid poverty reduction' (ILOCARIB, 2011) and in turn reduce the need for child labour.

If technology continues to advance medically and socially then ‘there is vast potential for the promotion of change, higher productivity, job creations and improved standards of living in developing nations' (ILOCARIB, 2011) which all in turn pushes forward this innovative solution.

Globalisation

Globalisation can affect child