#6 Does Child Labour Help Children in Poverty?

Starting Point. Discuss the questions below.

• There are 168 million children worldwide trapped in child labour, accounting for almost 11 percent of the overall child population: 100 million boys and 68 million girls. Around half are engaged in hazardous work.
• Nearly 60 percent of child labour takes place in agriculture.
• A total of 47.5 million adolescents aged 15 to 17 years are in hazardous work, accounting for 40 percent of all employed adolescents aged 15 to 17 years and over one-quarter (28 percent) of all child labourers.
• Hazardous work appears especially common among adolescents employed in industry and agriculture.

Focus on Vocabulary. Match the words with the correct meaning.

Focus on Listening. Watch the video. 

Focus on Comprehension. Answer the questions below about the video.

Focus on Speaking.  Discuss the questions below.

• What is your take on the Professor’s analysis? Do you agree or disagree?
• Is child labour ever acceptable?
• Does child labour help the children in poverty who work because they need that extra income to support their families?
• What are the alternatives?