for W3c validation

Thanks to the Under the Canopy blog for highlighting the latest findings (PDF) from the International Labour Organization regarding child labour. Here’s some of the interesting tidbits ipanema highlighted (quoted):

• Global number of child labourers [5-17 y.o.] – decreased from 246 million to 218 million [2004].

• The number of children aged 5-17 engaged in hazardous work – has declined by 26%, from 171 million in 2000 to 126 million in 2004. With 33%, the decline in the age group 5-14 has even been sharper.

• Latin America & the Caribbean – the most rapid decline by two thirds with just 5% of children ages 5 to 14 now engage in work.

• Sub-Saharan Africa – The highest of any region in the world with 26% or close to 50 million children working. The biggest hurdle I think. No figures stating it declined or not.

• Asia-Pacific Region – 122 million children aged 5-14 work, 5 million less than four years ago. Less than 20 % of Asian children in that age group are now at work.

• In industrialized countries – about 2.5 million children under the age of 15 were at work in 2000.

• By industry – Almost 7 out of 10 working children are in the agricultural sector. 22% work in services and 9% in industry, including mining, construction and manufacturing.

• The estimated cost of the elimination of child labour is US$760 billion over a 20-year period. The estimated benefit in terms of better education and health is over US$4 trillion. The benefits would therefore outweigh the costs by nearly 6 to 1.

It sounds like these figures are heading in the right direction, which is great to hear.