9
ten years worked on building sites.
1
In Italy, an investigation by the Ministry of Labour in
1970 revealed that at least half a million children of com- pulsory school age (under 14) were illegally employed in small factories, bars, restaurants, building sites, and especially on farms. The investigation reported many serious accidents to working children, especially in the construction industry. Employers hired children under 14 in order to cut labour costs and avoid social security payments. Also in 1970, the Milan regional economic planning committee estimated that there were at least 55,000 children working in the Milan area alone, which is one of the richest in Italy. In Naples, a specific case reported in 1973 concerned many girls aged between 11 and 14 years employed making handbags; the use of a poisonous glue caused many accidents, leading in some cases
to permanent paralysis. This industry is thought still to exist. In poor rural areas of Italy, children are employed looking after sheep, either on their own or helping adults.
In Sardinia sheep flocks are usually herded by an adult and
a child. In southern Italy, there is an annual market at Altamura, near Bari, where, among other transactions, boys aged 11 to 14 years from poor families are "bought" from
their parents by sheep farmers to act as shepherds. A recent
court case after the suicide of one of these boys revealed the conditions of his work, which were not unusual in the area; a 15-hour day, sleeping at night with the sheep in their stall, inadequate food, one day off every two months. These shepherd boys are dismissed when they are old enough to be eligible for adult wages. Similar cond.itions are thought to operate in Sicily.
(a)
2
Americas
In the United States, the majority of working children
belong to migrant families, and are employed in agriculture.
1.
Gitta Sereny, Telegraph Magazine, London 1970.
2. New York Times, 1 July 1972; Times Educational Supplement,
London, 6 July 1973; Ian Mather, Observer, London, 19 December 1976.