Economic and Labour Rights: A Blind Spot in the Discourse on Children's Rights

This author discusses the question whether children have economic and labour rights, and if so, what that means in practice. With regard to international law, he clarifies the relationship between different areas of law and the relationship between various legal concepts that are relevant to the protection of children's economic and labour rights. More specifically, he explores the relationship between human rights in general and children's rights in particular, as well as the relationship between economic and social rights, human and labour rights, and legal and moral rights. Next, he focuses on working children and their associations and which economic and labour rights they consider necessary. Furthermore, he discusses how these rights are, or should be, reflected in international law and in national legislation. Finally, the key obstacles in protecting children's economic and labour rights in international law are discussed, i.e. what practical difficulties are to be overcome on the ground in order to realise and bring to life the economic and labour rights of children.