Labour exploitation of migrants 2014, para. 56

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Migrant children are more vulnerable to abuse and injuries than adult migrants. The frequent lack of distinction between adult and child migrants renders children vulnerable to rights violations, including in relation to the minimum age for admission to employment and the worst forms of child labour. Information available to the Special Rapporteur indicates that recruitment agencies sometimes recruit children and provide them with forged passports, falsely indicating that they are above 18 years of age. A case brought to the Special Rapporteur's attention concerned a migrant domestic worker reportedly aged 17, although her passport stated that she was older. She was charged with murder for the death of a baby in her care, and was later executed by beheading. Migrant children, particularly those who are unaccompanied, are also vulnerable to trafficking. While boys are most vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking for labour exploitation and forced labour, girls are most vulnerable to trafficking for sexual exploitation and sexual slavery. The lack of community relations and parental oversight of unaccompanied migrant children renders them more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation than local child labourers. They suffer from more maltreatment in the workplace and are generally worse off in terms of working conditions compared to local children. Migrant child labourers are among the least visible and least politically empowered of workers, meaning that employers have no incentive to provide them with proper working and living conditions. This lack of legal protection also generally translates to lower levels of health and education for migrant children.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants
Document type
Special Procedures' report
Means of adoption
N.A.
Topic(s)
  • Economic Rights
  • Movement
  • Violence
Person(s) affected
  • Boys
  • Children
  • Girls
  • Persons on the move
Year
2014
Paragraph type
Other
Paragraph number
56