ASIA/YEMEN - The plight of child workers: over 1 million and 300 thousand

Sanaa (Agenzia Fides) - In Yemen over 1 million and 300 thousand working children have been registered. This is what emerged from the findings of the first national Study on child labor carried out in the Asian country. We are talking about 17% of all children. Of these, 469 000 in the age between 5 and 11 are girls. The research defines "workers" all children under 14 years of age who are somehow exploited, and those between 14 and 17 who work more than 30 hours per week, or who are involved in any hazardous activity. According to the International Labour Organization, poverty is the key factor that triggers and feeds this phenomenon, as well as the lack of jobs for graduates and the growing number of young people. 42.5% of the population of the Asian country is under 15 years of age. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 21/01/2013)