Tendy Gunawan
This is a question that is often asked whenever people see children selling snacks, tissues, or other items on the streets of Dili.
A few months ago, a university student visited our office to learn more about child labour. She was particularly concerned about the growing number of children working on the streets and wanted to understand what could be done to address the issue. It was encouraging to see a young Timorese taking an interest in an important social challenge and looking for ways to contribute to solutions.
Many people automatically label any child working on the street as a victim of child labour. However, the reality is often more complex. In many cases, children help their families earn additional income because the household is facing economic hardship. A family member may require medical treatment, parents may struggle to earn enough to cover daily expenses, or a parent may be unable to work due to illness. These circumstances often push children into income-generating activities. Economic hardship is one of the main reasons children are found working on the streets. Simply removing them from the streets, without addressing the underlying causes, may not solve the problem facing their families. Child labour is a complex issue that involves economic, social, educational, health, cultural, and policy dimensions.
According to ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age and ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, child labour refers to work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and dignity, and that is harmful to their physical or mental development. It also includes work that interferes with a child’s education by preventing them from attending school, forcing them to leave school prematurely, or requiring them to combine schooling with excessively long and heavy work.
For this reason, we should not automatically assume that every child working on the street is engaged in child labour. Several questions need to be considered. What is the age of the child working? How many hours is the child working in a day? Does the work prevent the child from attending school regularly? Does the child still have sufficient time to rest, play, and socialize with friends? Is the work safe and appropriate for a child of that age?
At the same time, there are certain forms of work that should never be performed by children. As outlined in ILO Convention No. 182 and Recommendation No. 190, the worst forms of child labour include slavery and practices similar to slavery, trafficking of children, forced or compulsory labour, the use of children in prostitution or pornography, the use of children in illicit activities such as drug trafficking, and hazardous work that is likely to harm their health, safety, or morals.
While ultimately, we do not want any children working on the street, addressing the situation requires a case-by-case approach. Every child comes from a different family situation and faces different challenges. Effective solutions must focus not only on the child but also on the needs of the household and the parents. Depending on the circumstances, families may require social protection, income support, access to education, parents may require access to trainings and decent jobs, healthcare, or other forms of assistance. A one-size-fits-all solution is unlikely to be effective.
If we genuinely want to reduce child labour in Timor-Leste, we must move beyond assumptions and seek to understand the realities facing children and their families. Protecting children is not simply about taking them off the streets; it is about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, develop, and enjoy a safe and dignified childhood.
The author works as Rural Development TVET Officer for the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Timor-Leste. The opinions expressed in this article are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ILO or its constituents.
