Developed by the "Understanding Child Labor" program , an interagency research initiative made up of the International Labor Organization , the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Bank , this report aims to provide a common basis for action for the addressing child labor and youth employment through four interrelated objectives:

• Improve the information base on child labor and youth employment in order to inform and guide policy and program responses;

• Promote policy dialogue on child labor and decent and productive work for adolescents and young people;

• Analyze the relationship between early school leaving, child labor and the future situation in the labor market; Y

• Strengthen national capacity for regular collection and analysis of data on child labor and youth employment.

Guided by the results in schooling, occupation in productive activities and the situation in the labor market, the document considers both the social and economic determinants of the problems related to child labor and youth employment in Honduras, using as the main source of information the Permanent Survey of Multiple Purpose Households (EPHPM) of 2013 .

Some findings:

• Most of the working children and adolescents are located in the agricultural sector (67%). This fact is of concern as it is one of the most dangerous sectors - along with construction and mining - for workers of all ages due to accidents and deaths related to work and occupational diseases. Commerce is the second branch of activity with the most child labor (14%), followed by manufacturing (11%) and services (7%). 

• The number of hours worked gives an idea of ​​the possible consequences on health and education. Boys, girls and adolescents aged 5-13 who work do so on average around 24 hours a week. The working day increases with age, reaching an average of 26 hours per week at age 13. In addition, it should be noted that many of them perform tasks in their own homes for a significant number of hours per week. With this, the total time dedicated to work increases significantly, limiting their rights to education, recreation and adequate rest. 

• Regarding the situation in employment, a large majority work without pay (86%) or on their own (4%). Only one in ten children and adolescents who work does so on a paid basis.

Overcoming the challenges posed by child labor and youth employment is critically important for Honduras to achieve its development goals. Most of the employed adolescents and young people of working age are trapped in informal jobs with few prospects for professional development and to overcome poverty and situations of exploitation. The effects of child labor and precarious youth employment are well documented: both can lead to vulnerability, marginalization and social deprivation, and can permanently damage future employment and income patterns.

The report highlights that child labor and youth employment problems are two sides of the same process that requires a global and intersectoral policy response. Evidence from Honduras and elsewhere indicates that the pillars of particular importance as part of an integrated response are: basic education, social protection, strategic communication, social mobilization, and advocacy. Furthermore, there is a need to improve child labor regulations as the basis for an integrated policy response.

Data:

The 'Understanding Child Labor' program seeks to guide and direct efforts towards the elimination of child labor and the promotion of decent work for young people. The program is guided by the Roadmap approved at the 2010 Hague World Conference on Child Labor, which sets out the priorities of the international community to combat child labor.
This report is part of a series of studies developed worldwide, which in the case of Latin America and the Caribbean, includes Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. While the reports for these last three countries are already available, the others are still in process.

To download the report, go to Understanding Child Labor and Youth Employment in Honduras .