On the day against exploitative child labor on June 12th
Osnabrück/Berlin, June 11, 2025 - Millions of children worldwide often work under dangerous conditions in small mining. Grubs dig, water up or work in tight shafts - this is what the everyday life of many children looks like, which often have to dig minerals such as lithium, gold or diamonds in illegal mines.
For the current children's work report, Terre Des Hommes asked over 200 children and adolescents from Bolivia, India and Zimbabwe, whose everyday life is characterized by hard work in small mining. Your answers show: The work is hard, dangerous and characterized by deprivation, and yet many are proud to support their families and learn new skills. Many reject blanket bans because poverty forces them to work and alternatives are missing. Instead, they decidedly demand better working conditions, more protection and respect on the part of adults and access to education.
»The exploitation of children in small mining must stop. However, a flat -rate ban on child labor in small mining would fall short and the need of the families would still tighten. During our research, many children emphasized that they can only finance the school attendance with the proceeds from their work. We therefore need realistic solutions that protect children and open up perspectives, «emphasizes Joshua Hofert, board spokesman for Terre Des Hommes . »Above all, this includes that the state authorities and institutions consistently enforce the ban on exploitative child labor. At the international level, we are calling for the political enforcement of the EU supply chain guideline, so that companies are obliged to care for human rights along the entire supply chain. This is particularly important because children in particular have to work in global supply chains under dangerous conditions. Politics and companies have to ensure that exploitation is stopped and that children support their families through mild and harmless activities and generate some money for their school attendance. «
On the full report: www.tdh.de/kinderarbeitsreport