The impact of poverty alleviation on the eradication of child labour in South Africa

Abstract

The mini-dissertation will analyse how South Africa complies with international, regional and constitutional obligations to eradicate child labour through poverty alleviation. Poverty is still a problem in South Africa 20 years after the transition to democracy. Before poverty can be alleviated, different concepts of poverty and views on poverty, as well as the nature and distribution of poverty in South Africa, must be reviewed. Lack of access to basic services such as housing/shelter, electricity, water and sanitation aggravate poverty. Socio-economic factors such as unemployment, education levels and health care levels also affect poverty. International and regional instruments prohibit child labour. These instruments include the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Labour Organisation’s Minimum Age Convention, the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. These instruments urge member states to take all possible measures to ensure implementation of international instruments in national laws. South Africa, as a party to all of the instruments, has an obligation to implement these instruments to eradicate child labour. In post-apartheid South Africa, poverty alleviation strategies have been geared towards the elimination of poverty, creation of employment and economic growth. Economic growth and employment opportunities help the poor to overcome poverty. The study examines government spending on social services on the poverty levels in South Africa. Various poverty alleviation strategies have been implemented. The South African government has allocated considerable amounts of resources to education, housing, welfare and health services, but this on its own is inadequate in combating poverty in South Africa