Child labor has been a big problem in Costa Rica. Children are considered to be weak and have no power; therefore, they are seen to be the perfect targets for labor. The forms of child labor may include: street vending, domestic service, agricultural work, and even child prostitution. The reason there are many child laborers is because they are poor and are trying to earn money for themselves and their family. They would do anything to stay alive and plea for a job, even though there is no fair pay. Their jobs that they so desperately need interfere with their schooling. While children suffer from illnesses, injuries, and work with dangerous equipment in unsafe places, the government continues to find a way to eliminate child labor. Many …show more content…
The government of Costa Rica is also responsible for raising awareness of the children’s rights under national law. The Costa Rican government participates in many projects, attempting to eliminate child labor. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), the Prosecutor’s Office, and the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) are all responsible for child labor enforcement laws. Costa Rican laws on work hours state, “Minors 15 to 17 years are prohibited from working for more than 6 hours a day or 36 hours a week, but children are allowed to work longer hours in agriculture and ranching.” The labor hours depend on the families’ needs. Costa Rica doesn’t have armed forces, but they do require the age of 18 to join the police force. Costa Rica wanted to eliminate child labor so they made a significant advancement. They passed a new anti-trafficking law and strengthened its laws against the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The Compliance with ILO Convention No.182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor stated, “The government put in place two National Action plans to combat child labor.” They are eliminating the worst forms of child