AMERICA/BOLIVIA - The number of children in Cochabamba forced to work to keep families increases

Cochabamba (Agenzia Fides) - The phenomenon of child labor has significantly increased on the streets of Cochabamba. The children leave school and dedicate themselves in jobs to help their families economically. They clean tombstones, work in the cemeteries, they become shoe shiners, wash cars, sell newspapers, etc.. Most go to work out of necessity, because their parents do not bother to provide for the family and it is up to them to provide. In the district of Cochabamba child labor is between 25% and 35% for children, many of them look for a job to buy food and school material. The Bolivian children must work to give themselves a chance in life, make money and keep families since the smaller members must provide for their parents and younger siblings. Unfortunately there are also many cases where children are involved in criminal gangs and become drug addicts. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2011)