Labour Rights

Working in hazardous conditions as a child can result in permanent disability, ill health and/or psychological damage which may not develop until adulthood. Children should not be engaged to work in dangerous or unhealthy conditions that could result in a child being killed, injured, or made ill due to poor safety and health standards, and unsuitable working arrangements.

Instances of hazardous environments for children include work which exposes children to physical, psychological or sexual abuse, working underground, under water, at dangerous heights or in confined spaces, working with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, work which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads, work in an unhealthy environment which may expose children to hazardous substances, situations or noise levels damaging to their health. Hazardous work conditions also include situations where children work under difficult conditions, such as long hours or during the night, or work where the child is unreasonably confined to the premises of the employer.