Italy has witnessed a concerning rise in the number of underage workers, reaching a record 80,991 individuals aged between 15 and 17 in 2024, according to the latest UNICEF report. The findings, released on the World Day Against Child Labor, highlight not only the growing prevalence of child labor in the country but also the escalating risks these young workers face, including a significant increase in workplace injuries.
The regions most affected by this trend include Trentino Alto Adige, where 21.63% of minors are employed, followed by Valle D'Aosta (15.34%), Abruzzo (8.46%), Marche (7.57%), Puglia (6.24%), and Sardegna (6.24%). The report underscores a worrying uptick in injury reports among these young workers, from 5,816 in 2020 to 18,825 in 2023, with six fatal accidents recorded between 2019 and 2023.
The post-COVID-19 era has seen a steady climb in the number of underage workers, both dependent and independent, with figures rising from 51,845 in 2021 to 69,601 in 2022, and 78,530 in 2023, before peaking in 2024. This trend extends to workers up to 19 years old, with a 35% increase from 2019 to 2023, totaling 415,495 individuals in 2023. The data reveals a gender disparity, with 258,000 male workers compared to 157,000 female workers in this age group.
Nationally, from 2019 to 2023, there were 330,864 injury reports filed with INAIL for workers under 19, including 204,369 for minors under 14 and 126,495 for those aged 15-19. The year 2023 alone saw 50,860 injury reports for workers under 14 and 32,197 for those aged 15-19, marking an increase from the previous year. The UNICEF report calls for urgent attention to the safety and well-being of these young workers, emphasizing the need for stronger protections and enforcement of labor laws to prevent further tragedies.
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