Child labor: Madagascar being in the red status

During a conference held last Wednesday in the Astauria Hotel in Antanimena, the National Institute of Statistics’ (INSTAT) specialists stated that, at the time being, about 2 millions of children are working in Madagascar, and that 90.000 of them work as domestics with which parents usually give their consent. Working closely with different organizations fighting against child labor, the INSTAT’s specialists, however, suggested that the current number is going to increase by the end of this year.

The causes leading children to work in Madagascar are many. But, the most conspicuous one is indeed poverty. In other words, the lack of financial resources to support an entire family often leads children to find small jobs in order to provide their parents with additional financial resources. According to INSTAT’s specialists, rural areas are the most affected by child labor. It is mostly due to the low rate income prevalent in these areas. Thus, in quest for a better life standing, rural children leave their home to work in big cities where they would do any kind of jobs in exchange for meager wages. On the national level, Mahajanga is the province most affected by child labor in Madagascar where working children are largely more numerous than in any other parts of the country. Besides, the most appalling situation in region like Mahajanga is not to see children doing any kind of jobs at an early age, but rather, doing one particular job: prostitution.

Many humanitarian and social organizations attending last Wednesday’s conference launched an appeal, especially to the government officials, to work closely with them and to find new approaches in the struggle against child labor in Madagascar.