Nearly 5 million children work in Mexico

4.9 million Mexican children between six and fourteen years old are forced to work. Of these, 1.3 million receive no pay and many work in appalling conditions, as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has declared in the country.

The agency complains that, despite national and international law upholds the rights of children, these kids continue to be exploited. Children who work as laborers in the countryside, for example, often begin this work at six years old and work for eight to fourteen hours each day.
In addition, they are exposed to adverse weather conditions and certain goods which could be toxic, such as pesticides.

According to the National Human Rights Commission, chaired by Raúl Plascencia Villanueva, Mexican minor children suffer from exploitation, abuse and violence. For them, it is important to end this situation because it can affect the "physical, mental and moral of the children”.

In the report, the Commission calls on the authorities to monitor more effectively these situations and to work towards the recognition and respect for human rights as any child to food, health care, education and healthy recreation.