CONCLUSIONES EN RELACIÓN A LOS OBJETIVOS E HIPÓTESIS 

Children in this study had different perceptions about the disadvantages of child work that mainly pointed to hazard and risks of work. Of the 20 children, 15 children had various perceptions about the disadvantages of child work, while five children were found without an opinion on the issue. Among the 15 children, 10 children recognised hazard and risk in their work. At the same time, out of the 15 children, 11 stated that they tried to cope with the hazards and risks. Table 7.7 provides description of their perceptions.

Defining risk of work

As shown in Table 7.7, four issues were raised by 10 children concerning the disadvantages of child work, mainly related to workplace hazards, health risks, injury risks, and interference with education. First, child work was perceived to be disadvantageous as it might be conducted in an unsafe environment. Three children in this study identified that they occasionally felt tired because of working on the farm in extreme temperatures. This, for example, was experienced by Angga

[M:13:ILONB] who suffered from hot weather during harvesting. When asked about the negative side of work, he replied: “One thing that makes me so tired is

harvesting”. He gave additional contextual information: “Usually we do harvesting at noon; it’s really hot!” Another working condition related hazard was animal bites. As explained by Dika [M:12:ILOBA], he and his friends occasionally found snakes in the fields where they were herding goats. When asked about the risks of work, he replied:

Dika : If we meet wild animals. Interviewer : Are there wild animals here? Dika : Yes, snakes.

Interviewer : Has anyone here been bitten?

Dika : Yes, my Mom.

Interviewer : Didn’t she wear boots?

Dika : Yes, she did. [She got snake bite on] her hand.

The second issue was related to health risks. Six children in this study believed that child work might bring them health risks. They identified three types of health risks caused by involvement in work. Two children, Gigih [M:11:ILOBA] and Aan

burns and pain in their hands. When asked about risks of work, Gigih replied: “applying fertilizer”. He then explained the reason, by saying “It burns your hand”. Another boy, Aan, when asked the same question replied:

Aan : Applying fertilizer is harmful. Interviewer : Why is that harmful?

Aan : Your hand might touch fertilizer; and then if you

unintentionally wipe your lips, that would be dangerous. The smell of manure was also an issue for two children, Dodok [M:13:ILONB] and Endang [F:14:ILONB], who usually applied manure on the farm. When asked about the risks of work, Dodok replied:

Dodok : Applying manure. Interviewer : Why?

Dodok : It smells bad.

Interviewer : If it smells bad, you may use…

Dodok : Mask?

Interviewer : Yes, mask. Does it still smell bad? Dodok : Yes, it does; and my hands? Interviewer : How about wearing gloves?

Dodok : Yes, exactly! But I don’t have [gloves].

Another health risk issue was neck pain, as revealed by two other children: Hari [M:14:ILOBHW] and Upari [F:14:ILOBHW]. Some children in Central Java

occasionally had to carry heavy loads on their heads, such as manure, crops, and agricultural equipment. These types of activities seemed to cause children suffering from neck pain. When asked about the risk of work, Hari replied: “Carrying crops on the head; if you don’t practice, your neck won’t be strong enough, causing neck pain”.

The next disadvantage of child work was related to injury risk. Five children in this study thought that the use of sharp tools in their working activities might cause injury. Children involved in hoeing might get injuries on their feet; moreover, those who are involved in collecting grasses might be injured on their hands or fingers. Harvesting leaves from trees also potentially causes injury from falling from the tree. When asked about the disadvantages of child work, Iyan [M:13:ILOBHW] replied: “Hoeing might cause foot injury; then harvesting leaves might cause you to fall from the tree; collecting grasses might cause you [to be] injured”. Similarly, Dika [M:12:ILOBA] also gave an explanation about the risk of work: “When clearing bush

on the farm, I sometimes get injured from using sharp tools”. The last issue was the education-related risks. Two children in this study felt that helping parents

sometimes interfered with their education, especially in the use of their after- school time. On some occasions, they wanted to study at home but their mother asked them to help in the kitchen. However, this was not the case for children during school time. Angga [M:13:ILONB], when asked whether his work interfered with other activities, replied: “Sometimes when I am studying my mother asks me to wash dishes.”

At this point, children in this study were able to identify work-related risks, including workplace hazards, health risks, injury risks, and interference with their education.

Ignoring and coping with risk of work

As can be seen from Table 7.7, although some of the children acknowledged

hazards and risks of work, they continued to engage in work. I identify two types of children’s responses towards the hazards and risks of work. The first type of response was given by those who simply ignored them; four children are included in this category. The second type of response, coping with the hazard and risk, was given by those who acknowledged the disadvantages of child work, but at the same time tried to cope with the hazards and risks they identified. Eight out of ten children from the previous section are included in this category.

Interestingly, although these two categories had different responses, in some cases they shared similar reasons as to why they coped with or simply ignored the hazards and risks of work. This study found three reasons, mainly related to working conditions, working attitudes, and working behaviours. The first reason, related to working conditions, was given by three children: Upari [F:14:ILOBHW], Udin [M:12:ILOBAW], and Septa [F:13:ILONB], who were of the same perception that their working conditions were safe, and they were not worried about potential hazards and risks. They did not feel that working on the farm was hot or feel threatened by insect or snakebites.

Interviewer : Do you find working on the farm harmful for you? Upari : No, nothing.

Interviewer : Have you ever been bitten by snakes or insects when collecting grasses?

Upari : Never.

The second reason, related to working attitude, was provided by four children and consisted of two ideas: sense of their ability to deal with the risks of work and working as a habit, which were important features to eliminate or reduce the risks of work. Two children, Gigih [M:11:ILOBA] and Septa [F:13:ILONB], thought that their involvement in river-related work, such as collecting freshwater mussels, was not dangerous as they were able to swim.

Interviewer : You spoke about collecting freshwater mussels; do you feel afraid of drowning because of strong river currents? Septa : No, I don’t.

Interviewer : Can you swim?

Septa : Yes, but I can’t swim well.

Interviewer : But you don’t feel afraid to collect mussels in the river? Septa : No, I don’t.

In a similar sense, two other children thought that they could eliminate risks of work through working on habitual activities. A boy, Hari [M:14:ILOBHW], said that harvesting leaves from trees was not risky because it was his everyday activity. In addition, Upari [F:14:ILOBHW] also explained that carrying loads on the head was not a problem because it was a habitual action.

Interviewer : How do you bring them [grasses] home? Upari : I bring it home. If not, my parents will do it. Interviewer : Are you strong enough to carry grasses home? Upari : Yes, I am.

Interviewer : Do you carry them on your back or on your head? Upari : I carry loads on my head.

Interviewer : Do you feel pain in your neck?

Upari : Because I do it often, it doesn’t pain me. But if you just start to practice, that will pain your neck.

The idea of working as habit informs how children live with risks and see these activities as normal.

The third reason, related to working behaviour, was given by eight children, consisting of four ideas: being careful, using proper equipment, avoiding

in completing work, two children in this study, Iyan [M:13:ILOBHW] and Hari [M:14:ILOBHW], were found to acknowledge the risk of injury in using sharp tools, hoeing, harvesting leaves from trees, and collecting grasses; however, they

continued undertaking their work. According to them, being careful was the key feature in preventing them from sustaining injuries. Of these risks, they were always aware and remained careful, although without parental guidance. When asked about how he coped with the risks of work, Hari replied:

Hari : The way to deal with that risk is to be careful.

Interviewer : How do you know to be careful: someone telling you or you knowing by yourself?

Hari : No one tells me.

In relation to using proper equipment to work, the same children, Hari and Iyan, thought that employing proper equipment could eliminate or reduce the risk of work. Hari felt that spraying pesticides was not hazardous, as he used a bucket, not a sprayer, which he considered to be safer. This implies that some idea of the work being hazardous may be due to misinformation. It also shows how children are trying to reduce the risk of this work – or perhaps portraying to others that it is safer than it may appear. While Iyan explained:

Interviewer : Do you use protective tools to do risky work, for example wearing boots for hoeing?

Iyan : No, I don’t wear [boots].

Interviewer : Or wearing long sleeves to avoid injury? Iyan : Yes, I wear that.

Interviewer : How about harvesting leaves from trees, when climbing do you use protective tools?

Iyan : No, I don’t.

Interviewer : You said that work is risky, do you realise that [that harvesting leaves from trees is risky]?

Iyan : Yes, I know.

Regarding interference with children’s time to play, four children in this study felt that their work did not interfere with play and that they still had enough time to play. When asked whether she had sufficient time to play, Yayah [F:13:ILONB] replied: “Too much”. While Dodok [M:13:ILONB], in response to the same question, replied: “It’s enough”.

Another idea of working behaviour to eliminate the risk of work was avoiding interference with education, which was closely related to time management, school

attendance, and educational attainment. Children providing this reason felt that child work did not interfere with their school and play. They provided different experiences and expressed different views to support their claims. Four children said that they were able to manage their time; they allocated their time to school, play, and work, and followed their time allocation. For example, although Hari [M:14:ILOBHW] performed paid work, his work did not interfere with his school as he always undertook paid work during non-school days. Further explanation was also given by Endang, when asked whether her work interfered with school; she replied: “No. I have allocated time for each activity”. While Wawan [M:14:ILONB], asked the same question, replied:

Wawan : No, it doesn’t.

Interviewer : Can you tell me about doing homework; do you have free time to do this?

Wawan : Yes, I can finish my homework. Interviewer : There is nothing to bother you?

Wawan : [The key is ] managing [time]; after school then go to work; at 4 pm take a shower and then play with friends; after that around 6-7 pm go to the mosque for children’s madrassa; and then at 7-9 pm or 8.30 pm study.

In addition, four children gave another reason, saying that although they helped their parents to do family jobs, they maintained their performance at school. They tried to maintain their school attendance and to achieve good marks in their classes. Some of these children were of the top five in class. Iyan [M:13:ILOBHW] said that although involved in family work, he was never absent from school and never felt too lazy to study because of, for example, feeling tired. Another girl, Yayah [F:13:ILONB], also explained:

Interviewer : Do you think work brings a negative impact to children? Yayah : [Silent]

Interviewer : For example, are you tired when working, or does working distract you from study?

Yayah : No, it doesn’t. I think just feeling tired. Interviewer : Feeling tired? Does it bother you to study? Yayah : No, no, it doesn’t.

Interviewer : How about your school rank? Yayah : Rank 4th_{when I was in Grade 7.}

Interviewer : When you are tired, does that prevent you from studying? Septa : Yes, sometimes.

Interviewer : How about your school rank?

Septa : Usually I got 3rd_{or 2}nd_{rank, when I was in elementary school.} Based on the way children perceive risks and hazards of work, either

acknowledging, ignoring, or coping, the idea of harm and risk is crucial. It is found that the children are fearful, living with risk and sometimes in pain and exhausted – in their own words. We need to understand it from their perspectives.

Table 7.7 Children’s perception of the disadvantages of child work

Disadvantages of Child Work Number Informants Defining Hazard and Risk (N=10 children)

Workplace hazard  Extreme weather  Snake bites

3 1

Yayah [F:13:ILONB], Angga [M:13:ILONB], Dhani [M:11:ILOBA] Dika [M:12:ILOBA] Health risk  Applying fertilizer  Smell of manure  Neck pain 2 2 2

Gigih [M:11:ILOBA], Aan [M:11:ILOBA] Dodok [M:13:ILONB], Endang [F:14:ILONB] Hari [M:14:ILOBHW], Upari [F:14:ILOBHW] Injury risk 5 Iyan [M:13:ILOBHW], Hari [M:14:ILOBHW], Wawan [M:14:ILONB], Dika [M:12:ILOBA], Septa [F:13:ILONB]

Interference with education 2 Angga [M:13:ILONB], Septa [F:13:ILONB]

Ignoring and Coping with Hazard and Risk (N=11 children)

Working condition

 Safe working condition 3 Upari [F:14:ILOBHW], Udin [M:12:ILOBAW], Septa [F:13:ILONB]

Working attitude

 Sense of ability to deal with risk

 Working as a habit 22 Gigih [M:11:ILOBA], Septa [F:13:ILONB]Hari [M:14:ILOBHW], Upari [F:14:ILOBHW] Working behaviour

 Remaining careful  Using proper equipment  Avoiding interference with play  Avoiding interference with

school

2 2 4 8

Iyan [M:13:ILOBHW], Hari [M:14:ILOBHW] Iyan [M:13:ILOBHW], Hari [M:14:ILOBHW] Hari [M:14:ILOBHW], Yayah [F:13:ILONB], Dodok [M:13:ILONB], Endang [F:14:ILONB] Iyan [M:13:ILOBHW], Hari [M:14:ILOBHW], Yayah [F:13:ILONB], Dodok [M:13:ILONB], Endang [F:14:ILONB], Wawan [M:14:ILONB], Dhani [M:11:ILOBA], Septa [F:13:ILONB]

Not available: 5 children – Pelita, Surya, Putra, Rio, Dewi