Work characteristics of working children
| n | % (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| *Carpentry included furniture painting, mechanics included soldering radiators, metal works included autobody repair, and other included workplaces of less industrial nature (electric work, hairdressing, butchery). | ||
| †1 US dollar = 1500 Lebanese pounds; minimum wage about 70 000 Lebanese pounds per week. | ||
| ‡Rent, food, education. | ||
| §Prefers another job (n = 11), back to school (n = 11), travel (n = 11), combinations (n = 5). | ||
| ¶Deduction from salary (n = 11), physical or verbal abuse (n = 11), or both. | ||
| Work experience | ||
| Current workplace* | n = 77 | |
| Carpentry | 19 | 24.7 (16.6 to 35.8) |
| Mechanics | 22 | 28.6 (18.8 to 40.0) |
| Metal works | 27 | 35.1 (24.5 to 46.8) |
| Other | 9 | 11.7 (5.5 to 21.0) |
| Years in current workplace | n = 76 | |
| <1 | 13 | 17.1 (9.4 to 27.5) |
| 1 | 29 | 38.2 (27.2 to 50.0) |
| 2 | 15 | 19.7 (11.5 to 30.5) |
| ⩾3 | 19 | 25.0 (15.8 to 36.3) |
| Mean (SD) | 1.72 (1.28) | |
| Years ever worked | n = 76 | |
| <2 | 33 | 43.4 (32.1 to 55.3) |
| 2 | 18 | 23.7 (14.7 to 34.8) |
| ⩾3 | 25 | 32.9 (22.5 to 44.6) |
| Mean (SD) | 2.34 (1.89) | |
| Salary | ||
| Weekly salary (Lebanese pounds†) | n = 76 | |
| ⩽20000 | 32 | 42.1 (30.9 to 54.0) |
| 21000–40000 | 30 | 39.5 (28.4 to 51.4) |
| >40000 | 14 | 18.4 (10.5 to 29.0) |
| Proportion kept by child (%) | n = 61 | |
| ⩽33 | 31 | 50.8 (37.7 to 63.9) |
| 34–66 | 28 | 45.9 (33.1 to 59.2) |
| >66 | 2 | 3.3 (0.4 to 11.3) |
| Use of salary | n = 73 | |
| Family basic needs‡ | 47 | 64.4 (52.3 to 75.3) |
| Amusement | 11 | 15.1 (7.8 to 25.4) |
| Combination of above | 15 | 20.5 (12.0 to 31.6) |
| Work perceptions | ||
| Perception of physical exertion at work | n = 77 | |
| Very tiring | 14 | 18.2 (10.3 to 28.6) |
| Difficult | 23 | 29.9 (20.0 to 41.4) |
| Easy/comfortable | 40 | 51.9 (40.3 to 63.5) |
| Preferences regarding current job | n = 77 | |
| Stay in the job | 39 | 50.6 (39.0 to 62.2) |
| Leave§ | 38 | 49.4 (37.8 to 61.0) |
| Satisfaction with current job | n = 77 | |
| High | 50 | 64.1 (53.2 to 75.5) |
| Little | 22 | 28.2 (18.8 to 40.0) |
| None | 5 | 6.4 (2.1 to 14.5) |
| Relation with current employer | ||
| Relation to current employer | n = 76 | |
| Family/relative | 22 | 28.9 (19.1 to 40.5) |
| Friend/neighbour | 18 | 23.7 (14.7 to 34.8) |
| Other | 36 | 47.4 (35.8 to 59.2) |
| Employer’s reaction to absence from work | n = 76 | |
| Penalty¶ | 26 | 34.2 (23.7 to 46.0) |
| Nothing | 50 | 65.8 (54.0 to 76.3) |
| Physical or verbal abuse by employer | n = 77 | |
| Always | 9 | 11.7 (5.5 to 21.0) |
| Sometimes | 24 | 31.2 (21.1 to 42.7) |
| Rarely | 10 | 13.0 (6.4 to 22.6) |
| Never | 34 | 44.2 (32.8 to 55.9) |