Domestic Child Labour in Morocco: An analysis of the parties involved in relationships to Petites Bonnes.
Author(s): T. Sommerfelt
The employment of young migrant girls from rural and semi-rural areas as maids, so-called "petites bonnes" has become a new urban phenomenon of domestic labour in Morocco. The main aim of the study is to estimate the number of "petites bonnes" and describe to what extent social and economic contexts influence the development of child labour, in order to identify possible ways of eliminating child labour in the future. The study combines quantitative and qualitative sources of data. The general population census, Health Surveys and educational statistics were used to calculate an estimate of the number of female child labourers. The rest of the research is based on informal, individual and group interviews and discussions with the participation of former "petites bonnes", current "petites bonnes" and parents, employers, resource personnel, and other stakeholders involved in the lives of "petites bonnes". The study estimates the number of "petites bonnes" to be between 66 and 88 000. The results demonstrate that the development of child labour depends on various factors, such as the quality of the educational system, the parents' living conditions, and the general living and working conditions in rural and urban areas. The main conclusion of the report is that in order to eradicate child labour migration, interventions should target employers, parents of "petites bonnes" and potential "petites bonnes". Recommendations outlined in the report include a proposal for setting up multifunctional resource centres for "petites bonnes" in urban areas, to provide these girls with education, counselling, discussion forums and health facilities. However, the main emphasis should be on rural areas, where community and activities' centres should be built in order for girls from rural areas to get involved in other activities than domestic work. Furthermore, the centres can be used for awareness-raising activities with parents in rural areas, aiming at both preventing the recruitment of their daughters as new ‘petites bonnes', and encouraging parents to have more control over the working and living conditions of their working daughters.