afrol News, 25 August - Child labour has become an important phenomenon in Senegal where over a million children [36% of children] were engaged economic activities during the past twelve months, national child labour survey revealed.

According to the published report, 1, 378,724 of the country's total 3, 759,074 children between 5-17 years were involved in child labour.

Some 2.1 million children of the same age bracket were involved in economic activities in 2004.

The authors of the report said majority of the child workers have been tempted by household poverty and illiteracy. Most of the children work in agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries sectors.

More than 82% of the children, mostly girls, were unpaid family workers without pay.

Forced child labour is proven to be common in the regions of Tambacounda, Louga and Fatick where children do hard labour for 28 hours a week.

While domestic children workers work for more than 50 hours per week, those in transport, manufacturing and primary sectors spend 47.9, 42.3 and 26.8 hours, respectively.

Close to 5.3 millions of Senegal's total population of 11 million inhabitants are children under 17 years.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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