Tobacco Induced Diseases (Mar 2018)
Survey of child labor in the tobacco trade in Algeria
Abstract
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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