AFRICA/MOROCCO - Child workers decrease, except in rural areas

Friday, 19 June 2015

Rabat (Agenzia Fides) - According to reports from the National Labour Survey widespread recently by the Commissariat Général du Plan (HCP), news of which was sent to Agenzia Fides, in the last 15 years, the phenomenon of child labor in Morocco dropped from 9.7% in 2004, to 1.5% in 2014. Last year, HCP recorded a total of 69,000 children between 7 and 15 years of age involved in the labor market.
According to the Labor Code in force in Morocco, the law provides that one can start work at the age of 15. In Morocco, the phenomenon of child labor is concentrated particularly in rural areas. In 2014, 9 working children out of 10 lived in these areas. Four regions of the Country, all predominantly agricultural between Marrakech and Rabat, represent 70% of working children. Considering the family context, 59,477 families have at least one child who works. The reasons that lead a child to this condition and to leave school are the lack of interest in studies in 34% of cases, the lack of nearby structures in 23%, means to cover expenses in 13.8% and the obligation to help the family in 7.5% of cases. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 19/06/2015)


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