Promoting occupational safety and health for working children through microfinance programming.
Microfinance programs are recognized as a way of improving incomes and creating employment for large numbers of low-income families, but there are concerns that working conditions within these informal microenterprises are far from ideal. For example, when families receive loans to expand a microenterprise, children may make up the labor shortfall until the family can afford to hire adult workers. Through the Promoting and Protecting the Interests of Children who Work (PPIC-Work) project being carried out in Egypt, a set of interventions that can not only improve working conditions, but can also be integrated into standard microfinance programs has been developed. By working with and through self-financing microfinance programs, the PPIC-Work approach provides a way of improving occupational safety and health not only for children working in microenterprises but also for large numbers of children and adults working in the informal sector more generally.
Carothers
Richard
R
Partners in Technology Exchange Ltd, St. Agatha, Ontario, Canada.
Breslin
Curtis
C
Denomy
Jennifer
J
Foad
Mamdouh
M
D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics*; D057217:Economic Development; D004534:Egypt; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D016272:Occupational Health