Bolivia has passed a new law lowering the legal working age from 14 to 10.

The International Labour Organization has set a minimum working age of 14 for developing countries. However, over half of all children working in Bolivia are under 14. Many clean shoes or sell food but others face harsh conditions in mining or agriculture. Under the law, from age 10, children can work with parental supervision. From age 12, they can work under the terms of a normal contract. The law also states the children must attend school and includes stricter punishments for violence against children.

The new law goes against international efforts to abolish child labor. However, in reality, many Bolivian children already work to help their families survive. The situation is only likely to improve after fundamental changes to Bolivia’s economy.

ボリビアは、就労可能な法定年齢を14歳から10歳に引き下げる新たな法律を制定しました。

国際労働機関は、途上国における最低労働年齢を14歳に定めています。しかし、ボリビアで働いている子どもの半数以上は14歳未満です。靴磨きをしたり食べ物を売ったりする子どもが多くいる一方で、鉱業や農業で過酷な環境に晒されている子どもたちもいます。同法の下では、子どもは10歳から親の監督下で働くことができます。12歳からは、標準的な労働契約の条件に基づいて働くことが可能です。同法はまた、働く子どもたちに通学の義務を定めており、子どもへの暴力の厳罰化も含んでいます。

この新しい法律は、児童労働を撤廃しようとする国際的な取り組みに逆行しています。しかし、実際には、すでにボリビアの子どもたちの多くが自分の家族の生活を助けるために働いています。こうした状況は、ボリビアの経済が根本的に変化して初めて改善されるのではないでしょうか。

Listening Quiz

1. What percentage of children working in Bolivia are under 14?

• aAround 10 percent
• bAlmost 30 percent
• cOver 50 percent

2. The word “abolish” in the third paragraph means most nearly:

• aavoid
• beliminate
• crelaxation

3. The information contained in the article indicates that:

• aFortunately, Bolivian children do not have to work in mining or agriculture.
• bThe Bolivian government is hoping to use child labor to increase its tax income.
• cIn Bolivia, major economic changes will be required to get rid of child labor.

4. Bolivia has been praised after it passed a law to abolish elementary education and allow children to work from 12 years of age.

• aTRUE
• bFALSE
• cN/A (not applicable)