In Ethiopia, underage minibus assistants are among those hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemicCoronavirus is changing the world in unprecedented ways. The pandemic has left such informal sector workers, often children like Tarekegn, more vulnerable as their income drops even as work exposes them to COVID-19, said academics. It is common to see children working on minibuses, as peddlers, shining shoes and selling lottery tickets, as child labour is deeply ingrained in daily life, according to Girmachew Adugna, a child migration specialist. More than 150 million children are engaged in child labour globally with about half carrying out dangerous work in sectors such as construction, agriculture, mining and manufacturing. "Poverty is key here as many parents urge their children to engage in work, raise income for the family.

Source: Ethiopian News August 27, 2020 12:56 UTC