ABSTRACT

Children’s engagement in economic activity has been a contentious issue since the Industrial Revolution in the West. Guided by standards adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a majority of countries have adopted legislation to prohibit or place severe restrictions on the employment of children. The process of globalization and the development of modern means of communication have made the plight of working children a major issue on the agenda of the international community. In this chapter we will look at the various perspectives that guide policy on child labour, and then examine the intersections between child work and schooling, and end with a discussion on what could be the way forward.