DG§s speeches: Index

STATEMENT BY MR. MICHEL HANSENNE,

DIRECTOR-GENERAL,



INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE,



CHILD LABOUR: REFUSING THE INTOLERABLE



(Ottignies, 16 February 1998)







Child labour is a widespread phenomenon throughout the world. In the developing countries alone, 120 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are involved in full-time work; this figure is more than twice as high (about 250 million) if account is taken of those for whom work is a secondary activity. Of these, 61 per cent are in Asia, 32 per cent in Africa and 7 per cent in Latin America. In absolute terms, Asia has the largest number of child workers but Africa has the highest incidence with approximately 40 per cent of children between 5 and 14 years old compelled to work.





MICHEL HANSENNE