عمل الأطفال : دراسة في العوامل الاجتماعية و الاقتصادية و التعليمية لعمالة الأطفال في الأردن

Abstract EN

This study aims at identifying the socio-economic, educational, and health characteristics of working children in Jordan.

Also, it aims to explore the main causes that push children out of schools and pulling them into market place.

The sample of this study consisted of (81) working children in six industrial areas (Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Mafraq, Balqa and Madaba) full of garages, repair shops, and trade services were selected for field study.

To achieve the study aims, the researcher developed a questionnaire consisted of five domains and (46) items, in addition to open ended questions.

Interviews with working children were conducted in their work places or streets between May 2006 and August 2006.Findings of the study revealed that the main causes for child labor were: 1) Helping the family financially (44.4%).

2) Low – level of academic achievement (17.3%).

3) ill – treatment of teachers and administrators (7.4%).

4) Family pressure (6.2%).

5) The desire to acquire a vocational skill (4.9%).

6) Other causes (19.8%).

Also, findings showed that children at the working places suffer from various exploitations, hazards and negative consequences such as: heavy shaking and noise, long standing under heat or cold places, physical, verbal and sexual abuses by employers and older employees, and most of them were exposed to dangerous chemical and breathing exhaust fumes.