Do you want to stop child labor and make a contribution to a fairer world? Then you've come to the right place! Child labor is a global challenge in which millions of girls and boys are forced to work under dangerous, exploitative conditions, sacrificing their education and childhood.
According to the International Labor Organization, around 160 million boys and girls between the ages of five and 17 are currently working in such conditions worldwide.₁ Fortunately, each of us can do something about it in our own everyday lives!
In this article, I would therefore like to give you the most valuable ideas and tips that you can use to actively do something about child labor. Let's go!
Here is a brief overview in advance:
- Inform yourself
- Look for Fairtrade labels
- Prefer regional products and grow your own crops
- Consciously reduce your consumption
- Inform others
- Support or work for organizations
- Start and support petitions
- Talk to companies
- Boycott companies that do not distance themselves
- Active ethical investments
Why does child labor exist at all?
Before we move on to the tips, I would first like to explain why child labor actually exists. So that you can clearer idea of the problem In the following, I will introduce you to the main causes:
Poverty
Poverty is one of the most common causes of child labor. The Destitution often forces families to put their children to workto ensure survival and increase household income.
Lack of education
The lack of access to education or educational resources often results in children (having to) work instead of attending school and improving their future prospects.
Labor shortage
Especially in rural regions There is a shortage of labor in many countries, which means that child labor is used as a cheap and readily available alternative.
Tradition and culture
In some cultures, child labor is firmly entrenched as part of tradition and culture, whereby it persists, is accepted and is difficult to combat. In such cases, greater importance is attached to securing the family than to education.
Ignorance and exploitation
Child labor would not exist without adults. Some employers use children as cheap laborto reduce production costs. For the sake of profit, they ignore the often serious consequences for the children concerned.
10 tips: What can I do against child labor?
Girls and boys work in textile factories and mines or on plantations and garbage dumps for a variety of reasons. Around 70 percent of child labor worldwide takes place in the agricultural employment sector. take place. Around 20 percent is accounted for by the service sector and around 10 percent by industry.₂ These figures give us a rough overview.
The global problem of child labor cannot be solved overnight. However, you can immediately ensure that you move from being the partial cause to the solution of the problem. Use the following tips and ideas to help put an end to child labor.
1. inform yourself
Education is the key to stopping child labor. The more I know about child labor, the better I can do my part. Adapt behavior, make responsible decisions and inspire others.
You have already learned some facts. But apart from this article, be sure to also take a look at Documentations an (e.g. The True Cost), read books (e.g. Small hands - big profit*) as well as articles in Magazines and visit Events (e.g. lectures or campaigns by Amnesty International) to expand your knowledge.
2. look for fair trade labels
By paying attention to Fairtrade labels when shopping, I specifically support companies that consciously stop child labor and promote fair working conditions in their supply chains. So when shopping, take the time to look more closely and make sure that, for example. Clothing, coffee, tobacco, bananas, smartphone, cut flowers or gold in each case come from ethically justifiable sources without child labor.
3. prefer regional products and grow your own crops
Regional goods of course do not exclude child labor. But in Germany, for example, it is prohibited by the Youth Employment Protection Act. There are only a few regulated exceptions, such as for vacation jobs.
In combination with the Fairtrade seals, you can therefore rule out child labor. As a general rule, I advise you to buy food and many other goods as cheaply as possible. at local weekly and farmers' markets and find out directly about the working conditions there.
Also the Cultivation tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and other foods in your own garden, on the balcony, in solidarity farming or per Urban Gardening, reduces the risk of unintentionally supporting child laborn.
4. consciously reduce your consumption
If you want to stop child labor, you should use your However, consciously reduce consumption and limit yourself to the things you really need. This is another way to reduce the demand for products made with the help of child labor.
So only buy what you need and try to buy as much as possible. live minimalist. Above all, to avoid emotional impulse purchases (of short-lived cheap products). And if you buy something, then buy things that are durable or will give you pleasure for as long as possible. Also the Second hand purchase is a sustainable way of combating child labor, as it eliminates the need to buy new items and thus production.
Tip: Power Consumption actually happy or rather unhappy? You can find a clear answer to this question in the linked blog post.
5. inform others
Use social media and organize events to educate other people about child labor. You can also draw attention to the global challenge and share your knowledge about it in personal conversations with friends, family and colleagues.
Literally plant a seed and encourage others to do the same in their own everyday lives. make responsible decisions and child labor. At the same time, the combined voice that is accelerating change in our global society is growing.
6. support or work for organizations
The fight against child labour costs money and there are people and organizations that work hard every day. to stand up with heart and soul against poverty, hunger and lack of education. You can support this commitment and make an important contribution with any donation.
Here are some aid organizationswhere your donation can make a great difference:
But maybe you have the time and the will to volunteer or even develop yourself professionally in one of these or other organizations. Just have a look at the sustainable job portal according to whether a Job advertisement that fits your ideas. Finally, you have the chance to take action against child labor every day.
7. start and support petitions
By Start online petitions or supports, you can take a stand against any social grievance - including child labor, of course. With the digital signature collection you can demand and accelerate political changes and stricter laws against child labor. Of course, this also works through the organization or the Participation in a public demonstration against child labor.
The direct route is also possible. For example, write a Letter to the heads of state of the respective countrieswhere child slavery is permitted and call for a clear line and positive change. The more people do this, the sooner the wish becomes reality.
One successful example: Rail rider Melanie Weigel has Fair coffee desired on Deutsche Bahn and, with the help of over 70,000 supporters of their petition, brought about a positive change in the company.
8. talk to companies
In order to stop child labor, a noticeable change is also needed in the economy. However, many companies have never addressed fair supply chains and are literally waiting to be pointed out.
By using the Contact by mail, call or directly on site As a customer, you can specifically demand that the company's internal supply chains and working conditions are reviewed and adjusted if necessary.
9. boycott companies that do not disassociate themselves
When a company Does not clearly and unambiguously distance itself from child labor in its own supply chainIf the company doesn't change anything or engages in brazen "social washing", then simply boycott it. Do without the company's products and services as long as everything stays the same.
The falling demand ultimately punishes the companies that approve of child labor and generate profits on the backs of children. The more people do the same, the more effective the (silent) protest will be.
10. ethical investments
Child labor is cheap as long as it is not actively combated. The companies in question therefore have a pretty good reason to change if you hurt them financially. So don't just punish companies that violate human rights by no longer buying their products, but also by investing your money elsewhere and, for example only buy shares in companies that are aware of their social responsibility and actively combat child labor.
Additional Tip: As climate change and other Environmental problems of our time contribute significantly to poverty, you can especially with the successive conversion to a sustainable lifestyle make an extremely effective contribution to combating child labor.
Stop child labor by no longer participating in it!
How can we stop child labor? The right answer to this question is not exclusively the responsibility of politics and businessbut also in our own daily actions!
From consciously reducing consumption, buying Fairtrade goods and targeted information about child labor to boycotts: you have now learned ten effective and practical tips for taking action against child labor.
Simply integrate them into your everyday life step by step and help to alleviate the suffering of the boys and girls affected. Always remain critical and question products, advertising promises and marketing campaigns. And please remember that the fight against child labor is an ongoing process and cannot be won overnight.
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
Aldous Huxley
I very much hope that my tips will help you and that together we can make a contribution to a fairer world for all children. Do you have any questions, suggestions or other ideas for stopping child labor? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay fair and just,
PS: Also about the World hunger I have put together a detailed blog article for you. If you like, you can now jump directly to the article where you can find out how to use the Stop world hunger simply by following your heart.
References:
₁ Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ): Child Labor Facts and Figures, available at https://www.bmz.de/de/themen/kinderarbeit/zahlen-und-fakten-17970. [06.04.2023].
₂ Statista GmbH: Distribution of children affected by child labor by employment sector in 2020 (as of 24.01.2022), available at https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/1192038/umfrage/verteilung-der-von-kinderarbeit-betroffenen-kinder-nach-beschaeftigungssektor. [06.04.2023].
