In 2024, about 101,000 children were working in Morocco, mostly boys aged 15 to 17 in rural areas and the agricultural sector. Over 60% were exposed to hazardous conditions, with child labor closely linked to poverty, school dropout, and low levels of adult education. In 2024, nearly 101,000 children aged 7 to 17 were working or helping out in jobs in Morocco, according to the country's High Commission for Planning (HCP). This figure represents an 8.2% decrease from 2023 and a 59.1% decline compared to 2017, based on data from the 2024 National Employment Survey. These key findings were shared by the HCP on June 12 to mark the World Day Against Child Labour. The report notes that children at work account for 1.3% of all children in this age group. The majority live in rural areas, where 2.5% of children (around 78,000) are working, compared to just 0.5% (approximately 23,000) in urban areas. Child labor is not only more common in rural zones but also significantly higher among boys. In 2024, 84.6% of working children were male, 89% were between 15 and 17 years old, and 77.5% resided in rural areas. Moreover, 10.7% of working children were still attending school, 87.7% had dropped out, and 1.6% had never been enrolled, highlighting a strong link between child labor and school dropout. In rural Morocco, the majority of working children are employed in primary-sector activities. The HCP reports that 70.3% of rural working children are engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. In contrast, urban working children are mainly employed in services (58.8%) and industry (26.1%). Another notable finding is the nature of employment: nearly six out of ten working children in rural areas (57.4%) are family helpers, while 29.5% are employees. In urban areas, 51.7% of working children are employees, 28.3% apprentices, and 14.6% family helpers. Dangerous working conditions The HCP also highlights an alarming reality: about 62.7% of working children (approximately 62,000) perform hazardous work. Among those involved in hazardous activities, 73.1% live in rural areas, 89.8% are male, and 84.4% are aged 15 to 17. Hazardous work is especially prevalent in the construction and industry sectors. According to the HCP, 74.4% of children working in construction face hazardous conditions, compared to 88.6% in industry, 71.1% in services, and 51.7% in agriculture, forestry, and fishing. Regarding family circumstances, child labor affects 73,000 Moroccan households, representing 1% of all households nationwide. These households are predominantly located in rural areas (51,000) compared to 22,000 in urban settings. Nearly 7.6% of the affected households are headed by women. Household size also plays a role. The proportion of households with at least one working child is 0.3% among those with three members but increases steadily to 2.7% among households with six or more members. The socioeconomic status of the household head is another important factor. Child labor is found in 1.2% of households where the head has no formal education, 0.9% where the head has only primary education, and is almost nonexistent in households where the head has higher education. Furthermore, 38% of working children come from households headed by agricultural workers, 24% from households led by middle managers, employees, merchants, machine operators, or artisans, 22.9% from laborers, and 15% from households headed by inactive persons. The phenomenon is nearly absent among households led by senior managers.
