EXCERPT FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: 

“The key objective of this assessment was to examine the general characteristics of Syrian refugee child labour in Jordan, drawing particular attention to the exploitative characteristics often identified as a key part of the phenomenon. This paper examines existing studies and reports on child labour to identify the incidence of long hours, low wages, hazardous and abusive working environments, and contrasts the laws that prohibit such conditions for juveniles and adults. It notes that a single fine of 500JD is levied on nearly 50% of offending employers investigated, and recommends that fines should mount as the list of legal violations against the child piles up. Stricter measures like these could act as a suitable deterrent to hiring child labour in the first place and at the very least may improve the working conditions of those currently working. This paper also recommends further investment into the Child Labour Unit of the Ministry of Labour so that more inspectors are available to detect abuses. The paper also identifies the factors that drive the practice of child labour, the consequences of child labour for the child and for the labour market and the response to the child labour phenomenon offered by government and the NGO community.”