In Australia, children can work in certain circumstances. They are protected by a combination of education, employment and workplace health and safety laws. These make sure that the work is safe and age-appropriate, and does not affect their education.
The worst forms of child labour include when children are in slavery or slavery-like practices, such as forced labour, or do hazardous work. Hazardous work involving children includes work in dangerous or unhealthy conditions that could make a child sick, or where they may get injured or die. It is also when children are sexually exploited for profit or exploited in illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
Worst forms of child labour are serious crimes
In Australia, it is against the law to put a child into the worst forms of child labour.
Under Australia’s Criminal Code, the penalties for child trafficking (for forced labour or other forms of exploitation), slavery and slavery-like practices range from 7 to 25 years for offences against children. To report these offences:
Australia’s Criminal Code separately includes a range of child sexual abuse and exploitation offences, for example, where certain types of child sexual abuse are committed using a mobile phone or the internet. These crimes have serious penalties of up to 30 years’ imprisonment. State and territory criminal laws also include child sexual abuse offences and drug offences within Australia. Contact 000 if you think a child is not safe. To report these offences:
What the worst forms of child labour look like
In addition to general warning signs of modern slavery, there are other signs that a child might be in a worst form of child labour.
Social isolation and control
A child in one of the worst forms of child labour may:
- have no contact with their parents or guardians
- have no friends of their own age
- live apart from other children, in run-down accommodation
- eat apart from other members of the 'family'
- travel with people who are not their relatives, who may claim to have 'found' the child
- travel on their own, with telephone numbers for calling taxis.
Lack of education and play
They may:
- not have access to education
- not have time for playing
- look intimidated and behave in a way not typical for children their age.
Inappropriate work and other conditions
They may:
- be doing work that is not suitable for children
- have clothing typically worn for doing manual or sex work
- have toys, beds and clothing in places such as brothels and factories
- be in a workplace where health and safety equipment are of poor quality. Tools or machinery may be modified so they can be used by children.
Find out more about how to get help for yourself, support someone else or report suspected modern slavery.
