Child labor is far more prevalent in developing countries, including much of the middle east, where millions of children are working in mines, fields, and service industries.
[2] Child labor has existed throughout history and reached its peak in western society during the 19th and 20th centuries following the onset of the industrial revolution.
[5] Employed children are less likely to attend school and results in a less educated, and less economically competitive population in the future.
[8] The majority of child labor in Saudi Arabia is concentrated in the areas of human trafficking, agriculture, and family businesses.
[9] According to a 2018 Report on Saudi Arabia human rights conducted by the US Government, the law prohibits inhumane forms of child labor.
Children in the Saudi Arabia region are trafficked for multiple reasons, including cheap labor, sex exploitation, and for use in local militias.
The predominant drivers for child labor in agriculture include lack of access to education and poverty.