Campaigns to End Child Labor

Every day, 215 million children (nearly one-seventh of the world's youth population) are forced to work long hours for little or no compensation, often placing themselves in grave physical danger in the process. They mine coal, cut bricks and harvest crops, exposing themselves to dangerous fumes and chemicals. They weave carpets, deforming their spines as they crouch over looms. They even make fireworks, risking explosions that can leave them disfigured or dead.

In addition to forcing them to grow up prematurely and exposing them to dangerous conditions, child labor denies children the only thing that can give them a future with hopes and dreams: an education. Eliminating child labor and improving access to education go hand in hand.

The AFT believes that every child in the world has the right to a high-quality, free, compulsory education. Such an education is not only a basic human right, but also a powerful tool. For instance, education is the most important resource for helping the poorest members of a society improve upon their socioeconomic position. Furthermore, democratic values cannot thrive in nations where tens of millions of people never learn to read. Ignorance and illiteracy destroy lives, undermine civic institutions, contribute to instability and threaten the well-being of every nation. Without education, there can be neither civility nor true peace.

AFT secretary-treasurer Antonia Cortese co-chairs the Child Labor Coalition, an international network for the exchange of information about child labor. The AFT is an active member of this organization, which provides a forum and a unified voice on protecting working minors and ending child labor exploitation in the United States and abroad. As part of that mission, the coalition develops informational and educational resources for both the public and private sectors to combat child labor abuses and promote progressive initiatives and legislation.

AFT co-sponsored a ground-breaking government and NGO policy dialogue with the State Department (DRL Bureau), Department of Labor (ILAB), the International Labor Rights Forum and No Limits. The event took place at the State Department on June 8, 2010, and was called, “Working Together To End Child Labor: It’s Time to End the Exploitation of Children.”

The conference was the official U.S. commemoration of World Day Against Child Labor. The dialogue centered on the U.S. foreign policy surrounding child labor and what more needs to be done to confront the issue now and in the future. The conference was attended by an audience of almost 300 government and nongovernment participants. There was an interactive Webcast that went out to thousands in the U.S. and around the world. Many embassies participated and hosted their own policy discussions on the issue. Read the conference webcast agenda.

Take Action

Be a Responsible Consumer

Responsible Shopper informs consumers about companies that utilize child labor and maintains a list of consumer campaigns against these businesses.

At the Fair Trade Online Store, customers can select from a wide array of goods produced in a socially conscious manner (i.e., without the use of child labor).

Rugmark is a program that places special labels on Oriental rugs made without the use of child labor.

Make Your Voice Heard

To contact President Obama, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, governors and state legislators, please visit this website.

To voice your support for Sen. Tom Harkin’s resolution calling upon the government of Uzbekistan to abide by its own laws and the international standards that prohibit forced and child labor, use this link to write to your senators.

Send a postcard to the Firestone Company. Hundreds of AFT members and others have already sent postcards, which can be downloaded and printed here. Keep pressure on the company high by sending a few today.