Child Labor In Bolivia: A National Crisis

Bolivia has one of the highest rates of child labour in South America. In 2022, 286,890 children aged 7-14 were working, many of them in the mining industry. In 2014, the Bolivian government reduced the minimum working age from 14 to 10 under certain conditions, sparking international outcry. While the practice is condemned by international organisations, it is defended by some in Bolivia as a cultural tradition and a means of survival for impoverished families.

Indigenous children are more likely to be child labourers

Child labor is a widespread phenomenon in Bolivia, with approximately 20.2% of children between the ages of 7 and 14, or 388,541 children, making up the country's labor force. Indigenous children are more likely to be engaged in labor than children from urban areas. This disparity is influenced by various factors, including cultural norms, poverty, and lack of access to education.

Cultural Norms

In Andean culture, work is viewed as an essential aspect of a child's socialization and inclusion in the community. It is considered a means for children to learn traditional societal values and contribute to the cohesiveness of family units. This perspective on child labor is at odds with Western concepts of childhood, which emphasize vulnerability and protection.

Poverty

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America, with 45% of its population living below the poverty line. Poverty is a significant driver of child labor, as children from impoverished families often work to support their families' survival and basic needs. Low living standards and limited educational opportunities further exacerbate poverty rates and the prevalence of child labor.

Lack of Access to Education

Access to education in Bolivia is marked by disparities between urban and rural areas, with children in urban areas having higher primary education completion rates. Indigenous children face additional barriers due to the lack of schools, teachers, and textbooks in their communities. Additionally, the high cost of education may lead families to prioritize child labor over education to alleviate financial burdens.

Government Efforts

The Bolivian government has made moderate advancements in eliminating child labor. They have ratified key international conventions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and implemented initiatives like the "accelerated leveling program" to improve the educational attainment of child laborers. However, there is still a need for more comprehensive policies and social programs to address the worst forms of child labor in the country.

Child labour is driven by poverty

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America, with 45% of its population living below the poverty line. Poverty is a significant driver of child labour in Bolivia, with children from poor families working to support their families' basic needs and survival.

In 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor estimated that around 20.2% of children aged 7 to 14 in Bolivia, or 388,541 children, were part of the labour force. Indigenous children and those in rural areas are more likely to be involved in child labour, with 70.9% employed in the agricultural sector. Children in these areas start working at a young age, participating in activities such as planting and harvesting crops, working on cattle ranches, and mining.

Low living standards and limited access to education contribute to the prevalence of child labour. UNICEF reports that a family's access to financial credit impacts the likelihood of children working, as greater access reduces the need for child labour. The high cost of education also plays a role, with poor families opting to send their children to work instead.

The lack of access to quality education is both a cause and consequence of child labour. In Bolivia, there are disparities in educational attainment between urban and rural areas, with rural children having lower primary education completion rates. Additionally, gender and ethnicity play a role, with girls and indigenous children being more likely to be out of school and working, particularly in domestic occupations.

Cultural and social attitudes also contribute to child labour in Bolivia. In Andean culture, work is seen as an important aspect of a child's socialisation, teaching them traditional societal values and contributing to family cohesion. The perception that work builds character and skills also influences the acceptance of child labour.

Poverty, combined with cultural and social factors, creates a situation where child labour is seen as a "necessary evil" to combat family poverty. However, this perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of poverty, as children who work are less likely to receive an education, limiting their economic opportunities and contributing to the country's poverty.

Addressing poverty and improving access to quality education are crucial steps in reducing child labour in Bolivia.

Children work in agriculture, mining, and urban jobs

Child labor is a widespread phenomenon in Bolivia, with a large percentage of child laborers working in the agricultural sector. The activities of child laborers vary between urban and rural areas, but the majority are involved in agricultural labor. In rural areas, children work on small-scale farms and medium to large plantations, planting and harvesting crops such as corn, chestnuts, and sugarcane, as well as tending to cattle. They are exposed to harmful chemicals and pesticides and often work long hours, which negatively impacts their education.

Mining is another common activity for child laborers in Bolivia, especially in rural areas. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that around 13,500 children work in mines, with the nature of their work varying according to age and gender. Girls and younger children typically perform less hazardous tasks, such as washing clothes and searching for minerals outside the mining sites, while boys as young as six carry out more dangerous work inside the mines, including the use of explosives and the grinding of minerals. The work in mines is strenuous and dangerous, with children exposed to the risk of infections, physical injuries, and hazardous working conditions.

In urban areas, children are also involved in agricultural work, but to a lesser extent. They primarily engage in industry and service jobs, including domestic labor, woodwork, vending, and, unfortunately, prostitution. Urban work is also divided along gender lines, with girls taking on market or domestic labor, and boys performing physically demanding labor in construction sites or garages. Children working in domestic labor or on the streets are particularly vulnerable to physical, verbal, and sexual abuse due to a lack of protection.

The prevalence of child labor in Bolivia is closely tied to poverty, with children from poor families contributing to their family's income and basic survival needs. Additionally, cultural factors play a role, as in Andean culture, work is seen as an important agent of socialization and a means to learn traditional societal values.

Children as young as 15 work in mining

Bolivia has a long history of child labour, with children as young as 15 working in the country's mines. In 2014, the Bolivian government passed a new child and adolescent code, which lowered the minimum working age to 10 years old under certain working conditions. This change sparked violent confrontations between children and police, with young protestors angry that they had not been consulted and demanding that the legal age limit should be lowered.

The issue of child labour in Bolivia is complex and deeply rooted in the country's culture and economy. In Andean society, children working with their parents in fields and other activities is seen as a positive contribution to the family and community. This cultural acceptance of child labour is often cited as a justification for the practice, with many arguing that it provides children with a sense of dignity and social inclusion. However, the reality for young workers, especially in tough urban settings, can be very different.

Mining is one of the most dangerous forms of child labour, exposing children to toxic chemicals, hazardous working conditions, and physical injuries. Children as young as 15 have contracted silicosis, a lung disease caused by exposure to silica dust in mines. The long-term health impacts of working in mines can be severe, and miners typically have a low life expectancy of around 45 years.

Despite the dangers, many families rely on the income earned by their children to survive. Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America, with high levels of monetary poverty affecting 48% of children and 65% of indigenous girls. This economic desperation often leaves families with no other choice but to send their children to work, regardless of the risks involved.

To address this issue, organisations such as PASOCAP have implemented educational initiatives to prevent child labour in the mining industry. These initiatives aim to empower children and provide them with skills that offer sustainable alternatives to working in mines. However, the success of these efforts is dependent on the complex interplay between cultural norms, economic factors, and the effectiveness of government policies and social programmes.

Child labour laws

Child labor is a widespread phenomenon in Bolivia, with an estimated 20.2% of children between the ages of 7 and 14, or 388,541 children, making up the country's labor force. Indigenous children and those from rural areas are more likely to be engaged in labor, and the majority of them work in the agricultural sector. Bolivia has been criticized for its ineffective response to this issue and for failing to meet international standards on the prohibition of child labor.

In 2014, Bolivia passed a controversial law that allowed children as young as 10 to work legally, which was later repealed in 2018. This law stipulated that 10-year-olds could work for themselves, while 12-year-olds could work as contracted laborers for up to six hours a day, provided their work did not interfere with their education and they had parental supervision. Despite its good intentions, the law faced challenges in implementation and was criticized by human rights groups and the International Labor Organization (ILO) for compromising the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Bolivian Constitution upholds children's rights by prohibiting forced labor and all forms of violence against them. It also guarantees the right to education, access to culture and sports, a healthy environment, and self-determination. However, in practice, there are significant disparities in access to education, with a higher percentage of rural children being out of school.

To address child labor, the Bolivian government has implemented various initiatives, such as the National Commission for the Progressive Eradication of Child Labor and the Plurinational Policy Against Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling of Migrants, and Related Crimes. However, these efforts have been hindered by insufficient financial resources and a lack of public reporting on activities.

The country has also ratified key international conventions, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the ILO's Minimum Age Convention. Despite these commitments, Bolivia's laws and enforcement efforts fall short of international standards, particularly regarding child trafficking and the minimum age for work.

In conclusion, while Bolivia has taken some steps to address child labor through legislation and policies, the issue remains prevalent due to poverty, cultural norms, and inadequate enforcement of laws. The country continues to face challenges in effectively protecting children's rights and ensuring their access to education and a life free from exploitation.

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