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Child Labour Before transition, child labour was a norm in many countries in the region, particularly in the context of an ideology that officially glorified collective work. The State encouraged children to take part in unpaid jobs such as cleaning streets or harvesting fresh produce while, at the same time, being charged with defining and enforcing legal restrictions on the working age and conditions of children. Today, as a result of this conflicted attitude towards child labour, many countries do not strictly enforce labour laws intended to protect children, especially in the agricultural sector. School children have been routinely mobilized to help state collective farms harvest agricultural products, generally for several weeks or months and often in hazardous environments. With poverty increasing during the transition, children have been spending more time working to supplement family incomes and less time in classrooms. This observation is evident from decreasing enrolment rates, especially in secondary education, and primary school attendance. Other factors aggravate the problem, such as the poor quality of education, introduction of school fees and out-of pocket costs for transportation, meals and textbooks. Research indicates that illicit activities such as theft, robbery, drug smuggling, prostitution and illegal gambling have grown—and children at risk are targeted for recruitment into these criminal enterprises.
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