This undertaking, commissioned by ILO Afghanistan, focused on evaluating the hazardous work conditions faced by children and reviewing Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) best practices in key industries across Balkh Province. Adroit Associates led this comprehensive assessment, addressing child labor in sectors such as carpet and kilim weaving, painting on metal and wooden products, and the handling of insecticides through spraying, mixing, and selling.
The project had four critical deliverables:
- Conducting OSH verifications in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) previously trained by ILO on OSH standards.
- Developing an OSH training guide based on the findings from the verification process.
- Rapidly assessing hazardous work conditions for children in the specified industries, targeting children aged 15 to 18 years.
- Training SMEs to improve their OSH practices and ensure that children in this vulnerable age group are not engaged in hazardous activities.
The assessment involved in-depth household surveys in 81 households with working children, 88 detailed interviews, and 314 workplace observations. This extensive data collection provided valuable insights into the working conditions of child laborers and the occupational safety practices in place.
Adroit Associates also developed a “Child Labor Self-help Safety Guidebook” based on the findings, offering practical tools and recommendations to mitigate risks and improve safety standards. The initiative highlighted critical OSH gaps and provided SMEs with the knowledge and resources to protect both workers and vulnerable children. This project not only mapped out the dangers of child labor but also contributed significantly to improving workplace safety in Balkh Province.
Key Highlights:
- Assessment of hazardous work conditions for children across key sectors
- OSH verifications and training for SMEs
- Development of a “Child Labor Self-help Safety Guidebook”
- 81 households surveyed, 88 interviews conducted, and 314 workplace observations
