Welcome to the Child Labor Public Education Project

Today, over 246 million children, many as young as five, are involved in child labor around the globe. Child labor is work that harms children or keeps them from attending school. It involves work by children under conditions that are hazardous, illegal, or exploitive.

The Child Labor Public Education Project of the University of Iowa Labor Center and Center for Human Rights provides educational workshops and materials on a range of issues regarding child labor in the U.S. and other countries:

• causes and consequences of child labor
• history of child labor in the U.S.
• effects of child labor on children’s health and workers’ rights
• and international issues such as workers’ rights, trade, and economic policies.

Workshops and related handouts discuss these issues and efforts to end child labor through: advocacy by unions, churches, and community organizations; reform of laws and regulations; and consumer actions.

The Child Labor Public Education Project has related educational materials that you may adapt to meet your group’s needs. Training manuals for adult education and K-12 teachers are available, along with overheads and educational handouts. Please contact us if you are interested in a workshop, materials, or if you have questions.

The Child Labor Public Education Project is supported by U.S. Department of Labor funding made possible by the 2000 Senate Labor, Health & Human Services, & Education Appropriations Subcommittee that was chaired by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin.

This document does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.