Over 80% of children are unpaid family workers

Children engaged in economic activities are considered as child labourers but in our rural culture, children usually help household economic activities.

According to the Child Activity Survey - 2009 conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, total Child Labour in Sri Lanka was estimated at 107,259 or 2.5 % of the total child population.

The majority (66.3%) between 5 and 17 years were engaged in elementary occupations such as street and mobile vendors, street services, domestic helpers, agricultural and related labour workers, labourers engaged in mining, construction, manufacturing and transport.

At national level about 61% of the children are engaged in the agriculture sector.

The overwhelming majority (80.8%) of the children engaged in economic activities at national level, work for the gain of their families without payment and are considered as unpaid family workers.