Number of child labor Indonesia 2019-2023

In 2023, the number of child workers in Indonesia amounted to around 1.01 million people. This indicated a decrease of approximately 40 thousand people compared to 2021. Child labor in Indonesia is still an ongoing issue due to poverty and a lack of access to education in some parts of the country. The pandemic notably affected the problem, as the number of child workers increased in 2020. Although the numbers have decreased since then, they remain higher than the pre-pandemic level. 

The challenges of child labor in Indonesia

The persisting issue of child labor in Indonesia stems from different factors such as economics, social norms, and education. Poverty acts as a crucial driving factor in the case of child labor practices. Many children are pushed to stop attending school and get to work to help the family’s income, as over nine percent of the Indonesian population still lives below the poverty line. The islands in the eastern part of the archipelago, such as Maluku and Papua, had the highest poverty rates of over 20 percent in 2022. It was also found that Papua had the highest share of students who had to attend school and work simultaneously. Moreover, in certain areas of the archipelago, cultural beliefs are linked to entering the labor force at an early age, with some believing this to help shape children to have better life opportunities in the future. The lack of awareness about the effects of child labor and some companies not complying with the laws against child labor further exacerbate the issue.

Child labor in the Indonesian agricultural sector

Child labor in Indonesia is more prevalent in rural areas. As of 2022, there has been an increase in the child labor rate in Indonesia’s rural areas in the agricultural sector, which most commonly offers informal employment with minimal employment protections. Child workers in this sector face higher risks of being exposed to harmful chemicals used in pesticides and fertilizers, causing raised concerns about their safety. Despite the efforts to overcome this issue, such as child protection laws, government allocations for infrastructure, and government allocations for education to improve living conditions and educational access, the need for strategic initiatives to combat child labor in Indonesia remains.