Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

08 July 2025

3-minute read

Tied to economic desperation and adult unemployment, and despite legal bans, child labour continues to persist in South Africa.

Delving into data from Stat SA’s Youth Activity Surveys, Professor Derrick Hugh from the University of the Western Cape has uncovered some uncomfortable truths about how poverty works.

While child labour is under-researched, under-analysed and not fully documented in the country, the available stats show that child labour has dropped considerably. However, one major drawback of the survey is that there are “no questions asked on the income earned by the child labourer.”

Professor Hughes mentioned that work hours vary with most child labourers working less than 5 hours per week either to assist their families financially or to earn some pocket money. Child labourers are usually involved in the elementary sector of either the retail or wholesale segment, working as cashiers in stores or in spaza shops. These children are exposed to dangers like extreme cold or heat.

In SA, children under 15 are not allowed to work, but are forced to enter the labour market to contribute to the family income. In most households, child labour happens when adults are unemployed. Adults living with children who are involved in child labour have a 45% possible employment rate while adults with zero child labour in the household have a 60% and higher employment rate.

Statistically, within the home, 78 % of children do household chores like shopping for essentials, 64% cook for family members, 75% are involved in cleaning the home and 51% wash clothes at home.

Professor Hughes admitted that there is a difference between keeping children constructively occupied and exploiting them. While certain children are forced into the labour market because of financial reasons, others are exposed to certain household maintenance activities that empower them and can be advantageous.

He stated that the exact numbers of children involved in the labour market is not specific because many children do not admit to working. The reasons for child labour go back to the “root causes of unemployment” and skills mismanagement among adult labourers. Adults whose skills are outdated become unemployable. Additionally, having pensioners who collect a grant within a home and child members who work and earn some income “discourage job-seeking behaviour” among the people in the household who should be working.

Businesses and government social institutes need to look at new ways to address the adult unemployment rate and reduce child labour in South Africa.

Listen to the full interview here.