what is child labor

Child labor refers to the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives them of their childhood and interferes with their ability to attend regular education. It is often defined as work that deprives children of their potential, dignity, and is harmful to their physical and mental development. Child labor can take many forms, but a priority is to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, such as slavery, forced or compulsory labor, and hazardous work that is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children. Children may be driven into work due to financial challenges or uncertainty faced by their families, and poverty is a primary reason children are sent to work. It is estimated that nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide are engaged in child labor, with about 70% of child laborers working in agriculture. Child labor laws exist in most countries, and international organizations like the International Labour Organization (ILO) have set international laws aimed at preventing child labor. Efforts to end child labor focus on protecting children from jobs that interfere with their health, safety, and education.