Martindale Center- Policy Briefs on the Future of Work

Child Labor within the Ecuadorian Cities of Guayaquil and Quito 15 15 has exacerbated previous economic and social crises, leading to an estimated 42–66 million children falling into extreme poverty and increasing rates of child labor (ILO c). As of the date of publication, the Ecuadorian government has yet to institute any social welfare programs that support families in crisis as a result of COVID-19. Approximately 37% of the population in Ecuador are under the age of 18; “18% of these children were born in a family that survives on less than $1 US per day” (Morsolin). Driven by poverty, discrimination, and many other social factors, children in Ecuador are forced into child labor instead of education. Figure 1 identifies the types of child labor in Ecuador, separated into agriculture (e.g., farming, raising livestock, fishing), services (e.g., street vending, forced begging, domesticwork, unpaid housework), and industry (e.g., mining construction work). Statistics on child labor in Ecuador show an increase in child labor in recent years, with fewer than 100,000childrenengaged in child labor in 2014 and more than double that number five years later (El Universo). Quito andGuayaquil, the two largest urban areas in Ecuador, hold the largest relevant percentages of child labor. This is due to large populations and informal commercial businesses and the large percentage of migrant families concentrated in the areas. For example, recent statistics indicate that Guayaquil holds 2.8% of child labor cases in the country, which has been directly affected by the 2013 economic crisis in Ecuador (Paucar &Heredia). Efforts have been made by local public officials to eradicate child labor through economic programs (e.g., Human Development Bonus) as well as policy initiatives (e.g., Project for the Eradication of Child Labour), which was meant to reduce child labor by 50% by 2021 (El Universo). In addition, NGOs havemade efforts to promote educational opportunities for migrant children, yet struggle to receive national support and governmental adoptions of such initiatives (e.g., CARE International). Despite public programs and NGO support, there remain significant obstacles and barriers to the implementation and widespread efficacy of these programs, arguably due to the complexity of issues surrounding the causing child labor. The economic crisis of 2013 and the subsequent persistent inattention by government have beenmajor determinants for the current resurgence of child labor in the country (ILOa and ILO c). In addition to the increases in poverty and child labor due toCOVID-19, the economic crisis inEcuador resulted in a fall of their gross domestic product to 1.8%. The brutal financial devastation caused by the pandemic has forced families into poverty, which can increase the number of children forced to work. Since the onset of COVID-19, an estimated 62.8% of school-age children and adolescents have fallen victim to a digital divide due to lack of resources and of opportunity to attend school online. Contributing factors include lack of access to cell phones and computers at home, internet access, and economic instability (Ministerio de Educación). The pandemic continues to be a threat tomigrant populations in Ecuador, most significantly due to lack of legal documen- tation, marginalization, and high prevalence of child labor in migrant communities. For example, less than 15% of Venezu- elan people living in Ecuador have a regular migratory status that would allow them to work in the formal sector. In fact, an estimated 56% of migrant children and adolescents living in Ecuador are not included in the education system because of the lack of legal identification documents and the costs in- volved, including transportation, meals, and school materials (World Bank). The Ecuadorian government has taken several actions to eliminate child labor in Ecuador by establishing the Youth Impulse and the Less Poverty, More Development social programs. However, these national programs are not as effective as city-focused programs, indicating that local and regional differentiation in programming and implementation is necessary. The national government should focus on Figure 1 Source: UNICEF Data Warehouse.