AMMAN, 17 March 2008 (IRIN) - Inspectors at Jordan's Labour Ministry have set a 2008 target to remove from the labour market about 3,000 children, many of whom, they say, are subjected to physical and sexual abuse. The plan is part of a long-term strategy to remove some 38,000 children from the labour market.

Most employed children work in hazardous jobs, in places like chemical factories, car repair workshops and building sites that pose serious risks to their health and even their lives, said Ghadah Darawsheh, head of the child labour division at the Ministry of Labour.

Children under 16 are encouraged by the ministry to return to school or obtain job training, while those aged 16-18 are taught about their rights, including the minimum wage and working hours.

Darawsheh said tackling the issue was not as straightforward as it might seem: Many families depended on their children's earnings, either because the father cannot work or because the family income is not enough.

"We will be dealing with children on an individual basis, but what is important is to take them out of the labour market," Darawsheh told IRIN, noting that the government was trying to provide financial alternatives to such families.

Abdullah (not his real name) sells strawberries at traffic lights in the up-market area of Khalda from 8am till 6pm. The 14 year-old said he supports his mother and three little brothers.

"My father has a heart condition and cannot work," said Abdullah, who is often harassed either by older children in competition with him or by municipal workers. He also has to endure scorching heat and scant food and water.

Most working children are concentrated in heavily populated areas such as eastern Amman, Zarqa, 30km to the east, and Irbid, 120km to the north.

Girls are part of the army of workers, but officials say tracking them is difficult. Some are employed as cleaners in private homes, while others pick fruit and vegetables on farms.

Price hikes could exacerbate problem

Officials and activists admit their task will probably be made more difficult by the recent price increases. In early February the government liberalised fuel prices and lifted subsidies on basic commodities causing the prices of many items to jump 50-200 percent compared to 2007 levels.

The government increased the salaries of public servants by US$65 to offset the impact of higher prices, and welfare beneficiaries were given a US$10 increase on their US$50 monthly allowance, but thousands of other families are not cushioned at all. The minimum wage of $140 per month has remained unchanged.

Department of Statistics figures indicate that 14.5 percent of Jordan's 5.7 million people are living below the poverty line, while figures provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) suggest this figure is 27 percent.

"We are very worried that many citizens who were above the poverty line will become poor as a result of high prices - a situation which will automatically translate into having working children," said Nihayat Dabdoub, manager of the Social Support Centre for Working Children and Drop-outs.

The organisation is involved in a programme of its own to remove nearly 1,500 children from the streets of eastern Amman, many of whom are subject to abuse.

Figures on abuse of working children are not available and many officials say the issue is often swept under the carpet. Most of the sexually abused victims are boys, but social sensitivities in this conservative society impose serious challenges for activists.

"There are numerous cases of child abuse, but we have noticed children often keep to themselves and prefer not to reveal information either out of fear or a sense of guilt," said Dabdoub.

The latest figures in 2004 from the department of statistics suggest that there are at least 38,000 children working, but officials say the number could be much higher. The government is currently working on a census to determine the number of working children as well as the type of work they are engaged in.

mbh/ar/cb

© IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.IRINnews.org

IRIN news