Thousands of children work in Jordan says a study

Jordan— Thousands of children are working in different sectors in Jordan despite the country’s efforts to combat the phenomenon, said a recent study.

The study titled “The Estimation of Child Labor in Jordan 2014-2016” and conducted by social and economic council concluded that over the past two years, there were 36,000 to 40,000 working children in Jordan.

It added that the estimates are based on number of school dropouts in the country.

Official statistics show that the majority of working children left school after completing the 9^th grade, while 1.3 % of them have not completed the primary education, 34.4 % completed the primary education and 60% have completed the elementary education. According to the study, the rate of those who left school during the secondary education did not exceed 5 %.

The main reason for dropping out school and joining the job market for children is the availability of economic problem, with poverty on top of these reasons, according to the study.

Another reason is the quality of education that pushes children to leave school.

The study stressed the need to enact laws that protect children’s rights, and educated children on risks of working at an early age.