Worst Forms of Child Labour Data

Lesotho Region Africa Population 2,108,000 Population under 18 977,000

Total Child Labour NATIONAL STATISTICS * For the year 2000, the ILO projects that there will be 57,000 economically active children, 19,000 girls and 38,000 boys between the ages of 10-14, representing 20.73% of this age group. (ILO, International Labour Office - Bureau of Statistics, Economically Active Population 1950-2010, STAT Working Paper, ILO 1997) * In 1995, there were 56,000 economically active children, 19,000 girls and 37,000 boys between the ages of 10-14, representing 22.11% of this age group. (ILO, International Labour Office - Bureau of Statistics, Economically Active Population 1950-2010, STAT Working Paper, ILO 1997) GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS * Many children start working at a relatively young age. (US Dept of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999, 25 February 2000) Child Slavery - Child Trafficking GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS * The country is used as a transit point for trafficking in persons. (US Dept of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999, 25 February 2000) Child Prostitution and Pornography - Children in Crime GENERAL JUVENILE CRIME STATISTICS * 20.6% of total prisoners are juveniles. (UNDP, Human Development Report, 1999) Child Soldiers GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS * It is not known if there are any under-18s in government armed forces as no age is specified for voluntary recruitment. (CSUCS, Global Report on Child Soldiers - 2001) Domestic Child Servants - Other Hazardous Child Labour GENERAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS * Child labour exits in garment and shoe manufacturing industries. (US Dept of Labor, Sweat and Toil of Children, 1994, citing Lesotho Ministry of Planning, "The Situation of Women and Children in Lesotho'') SPECIFIC SECTORS * Garment Manufacturing - Children under 14 are employed in the textile and garment sector, and in family-owned businesses. According to a 1994 study by a foreign government, as much as 15% of the textile work force of some 15,000 persons may be children between the ages of 12 and 15. The Ministry of Labor denies the validity of this report. (US Dept of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999, 25 February 2000) * Garment Manufacturing - 5-15% of the workforce in several of Lesotho's garment factories are children aged 12 to 15 years. (US Dept of Labor, Sweat and Toil of Children, 1994)