Despite many countries announcing national lockdowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19, millions of people around the world don’t have the privilege of working from home or stopping work temporarily. In many countries, such as Argentina, where more than 35% of the population lives below the poverty line, this includes children and adolescents who work. In Argentina they describe themselves as chiques del pueblo (or working class youth). Due to their financial circumstances at home, they see themselves required to work at home or in the informal economy.
To learn more about the situation in Buenos Aires’ low-income neighbourhoods, the Child Rights International Network spoke with Santiago Morales, a sociologist and local teacher in the area. He is also a member of La Miguelito Pepe, a group of community workers advocating for the social and political rights and dignity of working children in partnership with the local, youth-led movement Asamblea REVELDE.
Beyond Trafficking and Slavery has reproduced their discussion below. It has been lightly edited for clarity.
