Survey: 82,000 children in Serbia victims of child labor abuse

Estimates indicate that 82 thousand children in Serbia are exposed to child labor. N1’s reporter said most of these children are between the ages of five and 17. The survey results show that these children usually come from rural communities and agricultural households and that their parents have a low level of education.

Jovan Protic of the International Labor Organization commented on child labor in Serbia for N1’s New Day show.

“The survey showed that practically 10 percent of children from the ages of five to 17 are exposed to child labor. This mostly happens in agriculture, but there is also a significant percentage in the services and industry sectors. Looking at the total number of children, we divide them into two categories: the first is children from five to 14 years of age, who are not allowed to work under domestic or any other law, and the second is children between the ages of 15 and 18, who, under the law, have the right to work, but in situations of work in dangerous conditions we consider it exploitation of child labor,” said Protic.

Abuse of child labor should be distinguished from having children acquire work habits by doing some easier kinds of work for an hour or so a day, which does not take time away from their school activities, Protic explained. Anything that drives children away from school and harms their health and morale is considered abuse of child labor, he added.

“The problem is that parents unknowingly cross this line and start using children as helping members of the household more than they should,” said Protic.