Child Labour in Urban Agriculture

The Case of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Urban agriculture in Dar es Salaam was found to use child labour of both children with parents of higher and lower socioeconomic status (SES). Child labour in urban agriculture was due to four interrelated factors: the failure to adequately enforce government regulations; economic austerity; parental expectations for economic contribution; and the children's obligations to their families. In some cases there was child labour exploitation. Efforts should be initiated by the government to stop the exploitation of child labour by ratifying the international minimum working age of 14, and by enforcing laws and regulations governing children's rights. Parents of lower SES should be educated to not expect an economic contribution from their children's labour, and children should also be educated about their rights. Children of lower SES parents should be made aware that their parents' obligations should not be fulfilled at the expense of their future well-being.