Tobacco Induced Diseases (Mar 2018)

Survey of child labor in the tobacco trade in Algeria

  • Boualem Ouzriat

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/84219
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1

Abstract

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Background Child labor in illegal and unprotected activities, such as the tobacco trade is increasing in Algeria. In order to analyze this phenomenon, a socio-economic and bio-demographic survey on child labor in the tobacco trade was carried out in 2012. Methods It's a socio-bio-demographic survey by interview which affected all children aged 6 - 18 years, practicing the tobacco trade in the province of Boumerdes in Algeria during the period from 01 January to 30 April 2012 . Results - 523 children were enumerated and interviewed, all of them are male, with an average age of 11 years and 55% aged between 9 and 13 years - 2/3 of the respondents are no longer in school - 75% of the children reside in the locality of the place of work. Less than 25% reside in rural areas, - 50% of the children interviewed have their father unemployed - Only 1 in 7 mothers has a job. - 3% comes from a family victim of terrorism - The majority of the children interviewed have begun this type of trade during the last 15 years, with an average period of 7 years of activity; - More than 33% of respondents are smokers - The informal network is the main source of supply (65%). And in almost 33% of cases the source of supply is not acknowledged; - 50% of these children work on behalf of their families, and more than 33% work on behalf of third parties - The average monthly earnings per child is 60,000.00 D A = 600 US Dollars / month Conclusions The gravity of this phenomenon is well demonstrated. Non-compliance with child protection agreements, Risk to children´s health , and ruin of the public treasury through tax evasion (informal trade, Trafficking and counterfeiting in the tobacco industry).

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