Generation Unlimited: the Well-being of Young People in Barbados

Virtual Educational Child Labour SeminarInternational Labour Organisation & Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Barbados

8 December 2020

Whither Child Labourin Barbados

Children and Adolescents

• The years from birth to 19 years - children defined as up to the age of 18 years; adolescents defined as between the ages of 10-19 years.

• Represents part of a transitional period in the life cycle from: dependence to independence; childhood to adulthood; primary to secondary school to the labour market; pre-pubescence to sexual maturity and relationships.

The successful negotiation of this transitional period is thus crucial to the future well-being of individuals, their communities and wider society.

Threats, risk factors and outcomes

Threats/ Risk FactorsNegative (risky)

behaviour

Negative youth

outcomes

Negative adult

outcomes

Macro-environment → → → ↓

Insufficient employment opportunities

Child labourUn- or under-employment

Unemployment

Poverty/ inequality →School non-

attendance/ Poor performance

→Lack of academic/

vocational qualifications→ Poverty / low earnings

Failings in the Education System

Climate Change

Early sexual initiation

Teenage pregnancy Poor Parenting

Micro-environment → Unsafe sex → Sexual / physical abuse →Unhealthy relationships

with partner and children

Negative peer group pressure Vulnerability to sexual exploitation/

early marriage

Mental and physical health problems

Sexual / physical abuse (abused becomes abuser)

Family → →Child neglect/ abandonment

→ Persistent criminal activtity

Low/ insufficient parental involvement

Substance abuseSocial exclusion

Incarceration

Family breakdown/ parental absence, especially fathers

→Criminal behaviour/

gangs→ →

ProstitutionCriminal behaviour Ill health

Parental substance/ physical/ sexual abuse

Poor nutrition ProstitutionEarly Death

Substance abuse IncarcerationIndividual

Physical/ mental/ learning disability

Obesity/ over-weight↓

→ → → ↑

↑ ← ← ← ← ← ↓

Children and Adolescents in Barbados

Children and Adolescents in Barbados – Population (1)

• Based on the 2010Population and Housing Census, Barbados had a total population of just over 277,821 persons.

• Children (0-17) accounted for 24% of the overall population, and adolescents (10-19) constituted 14%.

• Children (5-17) represent 18% of the total population.

Key Population Groups Male Female ALL% of Total Population

Children (0-17)27,517 26,425 53,942

24

Adults (18+)80,706 91,545 172,251

76

Early Childhood Age (0-4) 7,307 6,955 14,262

6

Primary School Age (5-11)11,192 10,541 21,733

10

Secondary School Age (12-16)

7,479 7,352 14,831

7

Children (5-17)19,470 20,210 39,680

18

Adolescents (10-19)15,513 15,197 30,710

14

Youth (15-24)15,109 15,174 30,283

13

Total Population108,223 117,970 226,193

100

Study Findings

Child Labour in Barbados (2012)

• Child labour among the 5-11 year olds (primary school age) is 3.0 %

• Child labour among 12-14(secondary school age) is 0.6%.

Age/ school groupDefinitions of child labour

(per week)

Involved in child labour

M F All

5–11 years

At least one hour of economic

work or 28 hours of domestic

work per week. 3.1% 2.9% 3.0%

12–14 years

At least 14 hours of economic

work or 28 hours of domestic

work. 0.7% 0.6% 0.6%

All (5-14 years) - 2.5% 2.1% 2.3%

Child Labour in Barbados (2012)

• Based on the 2012 MICS conducted in Barbados, the incidence of child labour is extremely low, no more than 2.3%

• Males have a slightly higher rate than females, 2.5%compared to 2.1%

2.5

2.1

2.3

1.9

2

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

Male Female ALL

% Rate of Child Labour in Barbados by sex (aged 5-14)

Source: 2012, Barbados MICS

2.7

1.5

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

Urban

Rural

%

Rate of Child Labour in Barbados by area (5-14)

Source: 2012, Barbados MICS

• Though the overall rate is low, there are higher instances of child labour among the urban population.

Child Labour in Barbados (2012)

Participation in economic activity among children 5-11 years is negligible.

However, among 12-14-year olds, more girls are involved in all three areas of economic activity surveyed when compared to boys.

1.4

1.1

1.8

3.9

3

2.1

0 1 2 3 4 5

Paid work

Unpaid work

Working for family business

% of children aged 12-14 involved in economic activity

Female MaleSource: 2012, Barbados MICS

1.1 1 1.1

0.2

1.11.4

0

0.5

1

1.5

Paid work Unpaid work Working for familybusiness

% of children aged 5-11 involved in economic activity

Male FemaleSource: 2012, Barbados MICS

Primary and Secondary Education

• In 2018, the primary school enrolment rate approached 100%.

• Similarly the great majority (94%)of children attended secondary school.

• Out of school and over-age rates are very low (around 1%) indicating a low level of drop outs.

• In consequence, virtually all boys and girls are attending primary and secondary school.

93%

95%

98%97%

99%

94%

96%99%

96%

98%

86%

88%

90%

92%

94%

96%

98%

100%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Primary school Net Enrolment Ratio

Male Female Both sexes

96%

94%

91%

93%92%

95%

98% 99% 98%

96%96% 96%95%

96%

94%

86%

88%

90%

92%

94%

96%

98%

100%

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Secondary school Net Enrolment Ratio

Male Female Both sexes

But the effectiveness of an education system cannot be measured by attendance rates alone.

Poverty among Young People

• In 2016, over 30% of young people were living in poverty.

• This poverty rate is significantly higher than that for the older population (21%).

• Poverty rates increased for all age groups between 2010 and 2016. • Young people now account for one quarter of the poor population in

Barbados – slightly lower than in 2010 due to changes in the demographic structure.

• The number of poor young people increased from 15,000 to 17,000, but the number of severely poor young people decreased by almost two thirds from 7,700 to 2,800.

32% 32%

28%

20%

15%

19%

38%

33%

36%

26%

21%

25%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

0-9 years 10-14 years 15-19 years 20-24 years 25+ years All

2010 2016

24%

28%

31%

25%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Poverty rate Poverty share

2010 2016

Health and Wellbeing

Skipping school and lack of parental engagement have been identified as increasing the risk of delinquent behaviour. The graph shows that these factors affect significant proportions of young adolescents.

24%

69% 65%

20%

71% 75%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Missed classes without permission* Did not have understanding parents** Whose parents did not really knowhow they spent their free time**

Risk Factors, 13-15 year olds, 2011

Boys Girls

Alcohol and Drugs

• Over 40% of 13-15s had first had alcohol before the age of 15 and 47%had had a drink in the previous month.

• Both these results are higher than for older age groups and imply that alcohol use amongst adolescents is on the increase.

• In 2011, around 15% of 13-15 year olds had used marijuana at least once. By 2016, usage was reported to have doubled.

• Two thirds of marijuana addicts had first used the drug when they were at secondary school.

9% 13%

68%

10%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Under 10 years 10-11 years 12-16 years 17+ years

Onset of marijuana use, male addicts, 2010-2014

Prolonged and frequent usage alcohol and drugs potentially leads to addiction, and risks leading to other more dangerous substances.

42%47%

22%26%

8%

41%

0%

20%

40%

60%

Tried alcohol when <15 years Had alcohol in last month

Alcohol Use

13-15 years (M/F) 15-19 years (F) 20-24 years (F)

Child Sexual Abuse

• Between 2010 and 2017, reported cases of child sexual abuse averaged 160 annually.

• These cases represented 20% of all reported child abuse cases. • Virtually all victims were female. • In 2017, 55% of victims were adolescents aged between 12 and 16

years; 30% were aged between 5 and 11 years; and 15% under 5 years.

•Around 90% of perpetrators were known to their victims.

•2/3rds of perpetrators were the victim’s partner, parents or other family members.

23%

28%

13%

17%

11%

8%

Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse, 2008/12

Girl's boyfriend

Close family

Other family

Family friends/neighbours

Member of the public

School related

Adolescent (teenage) pregnancy

• Over the last 25 years, around 20% of 15-19 year olds gave birth to their first child.

• Very few girls under 16 years (the age of consent) have given birth.

36%

55% 52%57%

64%

45% 48%43%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

20-24 years 25-34 yrs 35-44 yrs 45-54yrs

Age distribution of teenage births

Under 18 years 18-19 years

• Over time, adolescent births are increasingly concentrated amongst 18 and 19 year olds: two thirds of teen mothers currently aged 20-24 years (2016) compared to 45% for older age groups.

Covid-19 Impacts on ChildrenAnecdotal Feedback

Covid-19 Impacts on Children

Disruptions in children’s education

- Limited instruction, feedback, or interaction with teachers

- Learning less through online classes- Fewer subject being taught- Poor self-discipline- Limited/no parental supervision- Pre-covid challenges magnified for children with

disabilities

Covid-19 Impacts

Digital Divide: Limited Access to Technologies

- Lack of access to computers, internet, and data has left many students unable to effectively engage in remote learning.

- Digital literacy education needed for some teachers and students.

- Inter-generational education inequalities mean that some caregivers with no/low levels of formal education have greater difficult supporting children with home learning.

Covid-19 Impacts

Mental Health Consequences- Many students share feelings of stress, anxiety,

isolation, and depression, which they link to the lack of contact with their school community.

Education Not Free- Many parents are burdened by costs associated with

trying to continue educating their children during school closures/hybrid classes.

Children Living in Extreme Poverty Some parents to these children have lost their meaguesources of livelihoods due to the pandemic, making their already strained living conditions, much worse.

Human Interest Story

Anande’s Story

Anande: Then 14 year old male living in Barbados

Parents: Mother – OECS National/Father – BarbadianFather’s name not on birth certificate so needed a student visa toattend school.

Granny: Main caregiver who paid the visa fees that were provided byAnande’s Dad, until Dad’s new wife objected.

School: Denied Anande entry until fees were paid

Solution: Insertion of father’s name on birth certificate - then no feeswould be necessary.

Outcome: Dad refused based on wife’s objection. Anande out of school fornext 2 years and did odd jobs in community so LabourInspector unlikely to pick this up. A hotel employed him at 17 years old. He has since emigrated to Canada with Mum.

How could Anande’s story been prevented?

National Response

Recommended Action

Low child labour rates but need to recognise specific barriers, including Covid-19 faced by some populations in accessing/maximising education.

Strengthening dialogue, planning, and ACTION between ministries to tackle barriers and to reach the excluded groups - Education, Labour, Finance, Health, Social Protection, Justice

Creation/use of existing coordination mechanism -National Action Committee?

Heather StewartChild Protection SpecialistUNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area, Barbados

Thank you for listening and for your

feedback