Post-Pandemic

© U.R. Romano courtesy of University of Connecticut Center for Human Rights

It is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.

With this declaration the United Nations General Assembly seeks to revitalize coordinated actions and global partnerships to ensure the eradication of forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour. We celebrate this decision as it brings attention to the current context and challenges that the pandemic has brought.

Since the year 2000 child labor has diminished by 94 million children, which is an immense achievement. To give some perspective, imagine those 94 million children filling the entire population of California, Texas, Florida and Connecticut combined. It has been an immense effort of civil society, governments and even private actors.

94 million fewer child laborers - as much as the population of California, Texas, Florida and Connecticut combined

Nonetheless, the Covid-19 pandemic is reversing decades of improvement on this matter. As of now there are 152 million children working, and due to the pandemic the World Bank is estimating a total of 150 million people will be in extreme poverty by the end of this year. That means a probable increase of child laborers as direct consequence of the pandemic that has caused school closures, leaving kids out of school and at risk of falling into labour. Moreover, there is a strong correlation between adverse economic conditions and an increase of child labour due to the economic insecurity of families, according to the ILO and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

In order to address this multi-dimensional challenge, we face the opportunity to come together in solidarity to reorganize and repair historical injustices to the most vulnerable populations, while including nature and all its beings in the equation. As individuals and as a collective, we have finally realized the urgency of answering the question “what kind of world do I want to live in?” The need for action is urgent.

Although there is not one and only answer, there seems to be consensus around the fact that we need to focus our attention on redefining the social contract and take responsibility for the conditions on the planet and the societal systems future generations will inherit. Which reminds me of the concept of the seven-generation stewardship drawn from indigenous people’s wisdom. This principle serves as a compass guiding decisions on how we live, as it will impact the future seven generations. For this we need to release centuries of negative and outdated colonial beliefs and embrace diversity as a marvelous tool for all sorts of advancements.

One of the remedies for child labor, and its root cause poverty, lies in tackling the task of accelerating the de-carbonization of our economies, and with de-carbonization the consequent creation of adult jobs around our most critical necessities for the survival of humankind. We need to focus on solutions to work with nature and use creativity to draw inspiration from her billions of years of accumulated knowledge in order to be able to cope with and possibly reverse some of the effects of climate change that directly impact our children’s rights, the possibilities of a dignified childhood and ultimately our next generation’s survival.

In order to tackle the threat of more kids falling into child labor during the pandemic and in a post pandemic world, the adult work force has to focus on re-wilding, regenerating and restoring nature while using technologies that facilitate human lives and their survival in the planet. In this sense, the use of technology also needs to come out of the anthropocentric perspective and in service of a more eco-centric view.

Economic emergency responses within the governmental structure will be necessary in order to mitigate the worst financial shocks of the pandemic. Such quick solutions could be cash transfers, or stimulus checks and emergency unemployment compensation that help the most vulnerable groups to source their otherwise unmet basic needs. This also reduces the need for children to work to provide for their families. Social assistance and a clear spending plan for the long term could be the strategy to prevent this crisis turning into a catastrophe.

This plan has to go in hand with businesses operating in compliance with labour protections, as well as informed adult workers aware of their own rights for the sake of their own and their family’s quality of life and dignity. There will be a benefit to businesses operating in a socially responsible way towards the prevention of child labor and fairer conditions for their employees, who would be able to contribute to the revival of the economy with their spending.

In order to prevent and tackle already existing child labour during and after the pandemic, there’s a need to imbue the creative and innovative force of entrepreneurship with established procedures of due diligence, and require businesses to comply with their legal obligation to establish measures to prevent and mitigate the risk of environmental and human rights and abuses, positively impacting local economies open to broadening cooperation and accountability. Job and training skills and access to financial services is key to strengthen stability and accountability in the promotion of inclusive and steady economical growth.

We can all be co-creators of a fairer, cleaner, smarter, and safer world for our children through building resilience in individuals, families and communities working hand in hand with local governments to ensure the access and creation of safety nets through adequate fiscal systems and coordinated actions. The last 20 years are proof of what is possible and with preventive measures more children will be able to live free and to their fullest potential. Even through the adversities of the pandemic, this declaration will certainly help bring awareness, resources and action to the efforts towards the eradication of child labor.