Child Labour in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mines in Uganda: Are Legal Protections Adequate?

Abstract

Child labour is prevalent in both developed and developing countries and has become a global concern. This is because of the negative impacts that it has not only on the human rights and fundamental freedoms of children, but on their development and health due to possible exposure to hazardous substances. This article interrogates the magnitude of the problem of child labour in the gold mines of Uganda and seeks to highlight the gaps in the existing legal framework on the protection of Ugandan children from hazardous labour. It asserts that although poverty and a failed educational system are believed to be the root causes of child labour in Uganda, weak and inefficient laws coupled with a lack of coordination between institutions responsible for protecting the child contribute equally. Thus there is need for political will by the government of Uganda to help prevent the problem.

Does the education system matter? Exploring in-depth joint school attendance, hazardous and non-hazardous activities in artisanal and small-scale mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

“…Further research is needed to understand the characteristics of child labour in ASM in the DRC, it is known that large-scale mines also source and process materials from ASM which use child labour [ 26 ]. Additionally, allegations regarding the presence of hazardous forms of child labour have also been made against mining activities [ 18 , 23 ]. The ILO definition of the worst forms of child labour includes “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and which harms physical and mental development” [ 31 ].…”

“…Within the ASM sector, children perform various activities [ 23 , 12 ]. Children's engagement in these activities not only poses an extreme danger to their health and safety [ 18 , 26 ] but also decreases the opportunity to attend school [ 32 ]. Edmonds [ 33 ] stresses that the future well-being of the child is from having attended school.…”

“…According to Faber et al [ 16 ], engaging in work hurts children's attendance and performance in school. Balancing both work and school can even lead to dropout rates as children prioritise earning money [ 2 , 17 , 18 ]. However, working and earning money can also provide the means to afford school fees, since education is generally not free [ 19 ].…”

“…The lack of economic opportunities is another reason for the prevalence of child labour in ASM sites. Nevertheless, working in the ASM sector requires a lot of effort and energy [ 18 ]. The fact that a child works in such an area leads to the qualification of this work as one of the worst forms of child labour [ 2 , 17 , 18 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, working in the ASM sector requires a lot of effort and energy [ 18 ]. The fact that a child works in such an area leads to the qualification of this work as one of the worst forms of child labour [ 2 , 17 , 18 ]. The statistics reveal that 73 million children around the world work in mines and fields or factories where they are exposed to pesticides and other toxic substances, with adverse consequences for their physical, mental, moral, and psychological development [ 23 ].…”