Child labour in Bolivia

  • Dates
    2014 - Ongoing
  • Author
  • Topics Daily Life, Social Issues, Documentary

While most of the world is trying to diminish child labour, Bolivia has become the first nation to legalize it from age 10 last summer.

While most of the world is trying to diminish child labour, Bolivia has become the first nation to legalize it from age 10 last summer. Supporters of the legislation said that the law guarantees legal protections and fair wages for children, who have been working regardless of laws against it. Under the legislation, 10-year-olds will be able to work as long as they are under parental supervision and also attend school. It sets 12 as the minimum age for a child to work

under contract.

A 2008 study carried out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Bolivian government found that 850,000 children ages 5 to 17 were working in Bolivia, roughly half in the countryside and half in the cities. UNICEF and the ILO have led an international chorus against passing the law. Human Rights Watch has been scathing, with its chief child rights advocate claiming the new rules are “counter-productive” and may “perpetuate poverty”. How is the situation

today for the children in Bolivia?

© Toby Binder - The brothers Alan (13) and Fredi (7) are working as "Lustrabotas", how the shoe-shine-boys are called here, in La Paz.
i

The brothers Alan (13) and Fredi (7) are working as "Lustrabotas", how the shoe-shine-boys are called here, in La Paz.

© Toby Binder - Antony (5) is one of the youngest. He is selling sweets to cars passing by.
i

Antony (5) is one of the youngest. He is selling sweets to cars passing by.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Eloy (8) is selling chewing gum at "the Prado", the main boulevard of La Paz. He is working until he has sold the whole box which contains 100 packs of chewing gum. Then he has an earning of 22 Bolivianos.

© Toby Binder - Deisi (12) is helping in the store of her mother every day after school. During holidays she is working there all day long.
i

Deisi (12) is helping in the store of her mother every day after school. During holidays she is working there all day long.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Oliver (12) is making announcements for the countless mini-buses in El Alto. He is earning 70-80 Bolivianos per day. In the afternoons he is attending school.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Mostly the boys working as Lustrabotas are covering their faces not to be recognized by schoolmates. Often they are working in groups and supporting each other.

© Toby Binder - Little girl selling fruits on a main street in El Alto.
i

Little girl selling fruits on a main street in El Alto.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Many children work on the junctions of La Paz cleaning the windows of cars. So does young José (7). He is working all day long with his sisters Anna (11), Maria (9) and his mother who are selling sweets.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Beymar is fourteen years old. In the morning s he has to take care of his siblings, in the afternoons he is working and from 7 to 10 pm he goes to school.

© Toby Binder - A young boy is sitting on a street of La Paz and helping his father to sell lemons, sweets and nuts.
i

A young boy is sitting on a street of La Paz and helping his father to sell lemons, sweets and nuts.

© Toby Binder - Girl selling sweets to people passing by in their cars.
i

Girl selling sweets to people passing by in their cars.

© Toby Binder - A girl washing the dishes after selling food every midday to business people in the centre of La Paz.
i

A girl washing the dishes after selling food every midday to business people in the centre of La Paz.

© Toby Binder - On the slopes of "Cerro Rico" in Potosí you see children working in many different ways.
i

On the slopes of "Cerro Rico" in Potosí you see children working in many different ways.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Jorge (12) is living with his brother and mother on one of the entrances of the mines in Potosí. The family has to guard the entrance on the weekends and at nights. But when the miners are working Jorge also helps to crush and sort out the rocks.

© Toby Binder - Brayan (15) is working inside the mine together with his brother Luis (17) and their cousin Eduardo (29).
i

Brayan (15) is working inside the mine together with his brother Luis (17) and their cousin Eduardo (29).

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Gonzalo (15) has been working inside the mine for one year now. He also started with little jobs outside and he says the work inside is much harder. Here he is waiting for one of the many tippers passing by before continuing his way back into the mountain with his team.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Sonia (12) is doing the same job than Jorge, she also helps to crush and sort out the rocks in front of the mine. On the weekends she has to wash the clothes of the family. Her father died inside the mine before she was born.

© Toby Binder - Image from the Child labour in Bolivia photography project
i

Luis (17) started the same work when he had the same age than Brayan has now. Their cousin Eduardo says people here have been doing this always like this.

© Toby Binder - Jorge (15) in front of one of the many entrances into the mountain with a tipper.
i

Jorge (15) in front of one of the many entrances into the mountain with a tipper.

Latest Projects

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Stay in the loop


We will send you weekly news on contemporary photography. You can change your mind at any time. We will treat your data with respect. For more information please visit our privacy policy. By ticking here, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with them. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.