Mexico is seeking to reform its federal child labor provisions to raise the minimum working age from 14 to 15.
Federal Labor Secretary Ignacio Rubi Salazar underlined the government’s determination to eradicate child labor abuse at the opening of a photographic exhibit in Guadalajara this week.
The exhibit, “La Hora del Recreo: Erradicar el Trabajo Infantil en Latinoamérica” (Playtime Hour: Eradicating Child Labor in Latin America), comprises 32 large-format images taken by five renowned international photographers. They all have accompanying text.
Funded by the non-profit Telefonica Foundation, the exhibit can be seen in the esplanade of the Instituto Cultural Cabañas.
Mexico is the only Latin American nation that has not ratified the International Labour Organization’s Convention 138, which states that the minimum age for entry into work should not be less than 15 years and not less than the age of completing compulsory schooling.Convention 138 says the age can drop to 14 for countries “whose economy and educational facilities are insufficiently developed.” In addition, “light work” is allowed for children from the age of 12 in a developing country.
Children who enter the workforce too early and fail to finish their schooling place themselves at a distinct disadvantage in society, Rubi said this week.
According to Jalisco Labor Secretary Eduardo Almaguer, there are around 150,000 child laborers in this state – the third highest figure of Mexico’s 32 states.
There are approximately 14 million child laborers in Latin America, according to the United Nations.
“La Hora del Recreo” is also available as a book.