According to individuals working on children's issues, the incidence of child labor has seen a rapid increase in Myanmar during the military coup. The country's political instability and persistent poverty problems have exacerbated the situation, calling for immediate attention and action, as reported by the Than Lwin Times.
More than 1 million children in Myanmar are currently involved in child labor, as reported by the International Labor Organization (ILO) on June 12. Poverty and the Covid-19 pandemic are the main factors contributing to this situation. Over half of these children are engaged in work that poses direct risks to their health, safety, and moral development.
A person working on children's observed, "Child labor is increasing significantly. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the problem has escalated rapidly with the occurrence of the coup d'état. This led to a rapid escalation of the problem, not only in construction sites and factories but also in stores and tea shops."
The ongoing social, economic, and political crises in Myanmar have led to an increase in child labor, with children from the poorest families being the most affected, according to the ILO.
"Children do not receive full wages; their working hours are excessive while their earnings remain insufficient. The wages fail to provide even basic sustenance, greatly hindering the children's development and depriving them of vital resources," the source on children’s issues added.
The ILO reports that over 1 million children, aged between 5 and 17, are engaged in child labor in Myanmar.
Therefore, the ILO has issued a warning, emphasizing the urgent need for action to eliminate child labor and ensure social justice for working children and their families, including addressing the root causes of child labor in Myanmar.
During the coup, children in Myanmar were denied their basic right to education, and due to challenges in securing livelihoods, they were compelled to engage in various random jobs.
It is reported that children are being exploited for wages because they have to work in random jobs, and underage female children are being sexually exploited.
A person working on children's issues pointed out that many child laborers are forced to take up odd jobs because their parents are facing financial difficulties. Additionally, there is a concerning trend of deteriorating moral values among these children. "When their parents face economic difficulties, some girls are unable to attend school. Instead, they resort to different means to cope. Some collect plastic, some beg on the streets, and others work in tea shops. The rising cost of goods and lack of sufficient food lead to moral decline.”
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a total of 624 children were apprehended and tragically 401 lost their lives during the military coup.
