Algerian experts raise the alarm over the exploitation of children as a workforce

The experts that took part to the International Summit over the children of the street held in the province of Guelma, eastern Algeria, have unanimously called on the creation of a National Office for the Fight Against the Rise of the Phenomenon and the review of the laws over the protection of children.

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•  The participants suggested the creation of a consultative institution designed to follow up the phenomenon and sort out appropriate solutions to curb it and call on the media as well as civil societies to give more assistance to the poor families that are considered as the main source of this social plight.
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• The experts have indicated that the phenomenon has not reached alarming proportions yet in comparison with some Arab countries like Morocco and Egypt, but this shouldn’t be an argument to dismiss the phenomenon and its causes because future prospects are not reassuring amid the rising social problems.
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• Estimates revealed that more than 134000 children aged between 6 and 18 years are forced to work in Algeria; the number is very far from that released by UNICEF in 2004 stating that more than 5000000 minors are working in Algeria.