Child labourers in DRC. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
It’s a minefield: Elizabeth Coleman on child labour in the DRC
‘The problem is too complex for simple solutions.’
Before I got to know people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), I would have thought it obvious that ethical consumers should avoid produce that had used child labour. But at a recent meeting organised by the Conflict Minerals Campaign, George Bani and Joel Amani made me aware that the problem is too complex for such a simple solution. Many of these children have no income other than what they earn from working in mining areas; it is an essential supplement to their families’ budget.
In practice, making child labour illegal has not worked well for the children. Joel told us of one child who fell and broke his arm when he was running and hiding from the mine police, who pursue children as it is illegal for them to work in the mines. Another was caught and held until someone paid to get him released.
It was a privilege to hear from George and Joel. They have direct contact with child labourers, talking with them when they visit the mining sites. Joel said, ‘I almost always find children working there, mostly boys, mostly teenagers, but some as young as ten years old. Some work in mining, others sell goods to the miners such as soft drinks, biscuits, food, beer and local wine.’ Most of the boys want to be miners when they grow up, as there are no other jobs available locally. The soil has become poor because of the mining, so agriculture is no longer an option. Some want to move to the city, go to university, and maybe become politicians. One said he had a dream of becoming a rich gold dealer. They would like to have the money to pay for school fees, uniforms and books. Joel estimates that less than half of the children can read and write.
Priscilla Alderson, a professor of Childhood Studies, said that over fifty per cent of the people in the DRC are children, and it would be a huge blow to the economy to lose their labour. While there are negatives to children working (which usually also apply to adults working) there are also positives. They gain knowledge and skills, pay for school fees, and provide skilful labour to the economy. (The situation is different for girls in mining areas, most of whom make money by being paid for sex.) Children need legal protection, but this too applies to adults.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child says that ‘Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.’ But it does not oppose child labour as such.
Before we left, Priscilla considered what Quakers can do. Work with child labourers, she said, to help them gain better work conditions and wages. Working for justice and human rights should be the centre of all schools.
