Every year June 12 is set aside to inform people about the extent of child labour around the globe; and to help people understand what is taking place in sweat shops, factories and fields.
June 12 is the World Day Against Child Labour. This year the focus is on the elimination of child labour in agriculture. Worldwide, agriculture is the sector where the largest percentage of working children is found - nearly 70 percent.
Over 132 million girls and boys aged 5 to 14 years old often work from sun up to sun down on farms and plantations, planting and harvesting crops, spraying pesticides, and tending livestock.
“Child labour is a widespread phenomenon all over the world,” said UNICEF’s Senior Advisor on Child Protection, Gopalan Balagopal. “I should clarify here that we do not consider all forms of work as undesirable. In fact, certain types of work can help children become more competent adults. But when work stands between a child and his or her chances for education, or affects his or her health, then we consider this a violation of the rights of children.”
If you go grocery shopping today or any day for that matter take a minute to find out where the food you buy is coming from. Ask the store manager what he or she knows about the company that produced it.
Changes are, if you are in a major food retail store, the manger will not readily be able to answer. Ask her or him to find out because you are a regular customer and want to know.
Go one step further and tell the manger why you are asking. Change begins with one small step.
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