Survey on Child Labour Statistics

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a review on key methodological issues regarding two major international statistical approaches, which characterize the statistics on Child Labour, especially in poor countries. In the first section, we summarises and analyse some key concepts about the international definition on Child Labour. In the second section we analyze the methodology 'Statistical Information and Monitoring Programme on Child Labour' (SIMPOC) by International Labour Organization (ILO). In the third section, we describe an alternative methodology promoted by World Bank (WB) identified through the 'Living Standard Measurement Survey' (LSMS). In conclusion, in the fourth section, we briefly describe the Italian experience, reporting the major methodological implications emerged during the experimentation of the statistical research project 'Children and Work' carried out in Italy by ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics).

Keywords: Child Labour Statistics, SIMPOC, LSMS

JEL Classification: C80, I20, I30, J10