Behind the Bazaar: the hidden world of Erbil's child laborers
Shafaq News/ A troubling rise inchild labor has gripped the bustling markets of Erbil, the capital of Iraq’sKurdistan region, particularly in recent years. Children under the legalworking age are increasingly seen hauling heavy loads and performing gruelingtasks, as families suffer from dire economic conditions.
Ahmed...
In the heart of the city, theSheikhallah Bazaar has become a focal point for child labor, where boys like11-year-old Ahmed from Nineveh toil daily. Speaking to Shafaq News, Ahmedexplained his harsh reality. "The difficult conditions and poverty in theTal Afar area pushed us to come to Erbil," he said. "I started byselling plastic bags, then began pushing carts and carrying shoppers'items."
"The load on the cart is heavyfor me, but I have no choice. People are merciless—sometimes they put as muchas 50 or 70 kilograms on the cart. If I can't lift and carry it, they’ll hiresomeone else," he said.
As the eldest of three siblings,Ahmed is his family’s sole provider. His father is a man with disability sounable to work, leaving Ahmed to earn 15 to 16 thousand Iraqi dinars a day(11-12$). Despite the grueling work, he clings to his dream. "I am stillstudying and hope to become a doctor in the future," he said, a rareglimmer of hope amid the struggle.
Hassan…
Hassan, another child from Nineveh,aged 13, shared a similar story of labor and survival. "I want to supportmy family, and that's why I work here," he said. Earning between 10 and 13thousand dinars daily, Hassan's income helps his family survive.
Legal Gaps Fuel Exploitation
Shafaq News reported that many ofthe children working in Sheikhallah Bazaar are from Nineveh, displaced bypoverty and hardship to Erbil. Some of these young workers have even beenrobbed at gunpoint, adding to their already dangerous working conditions.During the summer months, when school is out, the number of child workersspikes, though many have already dropped out of school to work full time.
Hoshyar Malo, head of the KurdistanHuman Rights Organization, condemned the practice of child labor, stressingthat Iraqi labor law prohibits children under the age of 15 from working."A child should receive care, parental attention, and education," hetold Shafaq News. "For those aged 15 to 18, certain types of family workare permitted, but night labor, cart-pushing, and strenuous tasks are allforbidden."
However, Malo acknowledged the grimreality facing many families. "Is it reasonable for families to send theirchildren to work at this age without a compelling reason?" he asked."There is an urgent economic need for these families, compounded bycultural norms that dictate a child must work to become a man."
He concluded, "When we prohibitsomething, we must provide alternatives. If three children from a single familyare working in the market, it’s a source of income for them. If we ban themfrom working, there must be viable alternatives for these families in parallelwith the ban."
Notably, Article 121 of the IraqiConstitution grants the Kurdistan Region of Iraq the authority to exerciselegislative, executive, and judicial powers. For any laws passed by theGovernment of Iraq after 1991 to apply in the Kurdistan Region, they must beendorsed by the Kurdistan Parliament.
Under the Iraqi Education Law andthe Law on Compulsory Education, children are required to attend primary schoolfor 6 years, typically up to age 12. This creates a gap where children aged 12to 15 are particularly vulnerable to child labor, as they are not mandated toattend school but are also not legally permitted to work. In contrast, theKurdistan Region mandates 9 years of compulsory primary education, extending toage 15, in line with international standards.
