Blogs

27 Jul 2026

How Food Insecurity Drives Children into the Labor Market

AMMAN

Addressing critical social issues requires examining their root causes rather than merely dealing with their visible symptoms. In this context, child labor and school dropout emerge as two of the most deeply interconnected issues tied to the socio-economic conditions facing the most vulnerable families.

On the occasion of World Day Against Child Labor, the "Jusoor" podcast dedicated an episode to shed light on this imperative cause, hosting Dr. Nahla Al-Momani, Commissioner of Protection at the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), to discuss the direct link between food insecurity and pushing children into the labor force.

Statistical Reality and Economic Challenges in Jordan

Available official data in Jordan indicates that approximately 76,000 children are engaged in child labor a statistic derived from the last national survey conducted nearly a decade ago in 2016, with a noticeable absence of recent national surveys reflecting the current reality.

Dr. Nahla Al-Momani stated: "Field inspection and regulation alone are not enough to combat child labor. The root cause is poverty and food deprivation, which forces vulnerable families to make harrowing decisions just to secure their daily food"

Dr. Al-Momani affirmed that while field enforcement measures are operationally important, they fail to address the core problem. The primary driver behind a child entering the workforce is often a family’s inability to meet basic living needs—chief among them being food. Thus, a comprehensive response demands long-term solutions that address poverty and financial hardship.

Tkiyet Um Ali’s operational model exemplifies a transition from temporary relief assistance to fulfilling the fundamental right to food. Through its monthly Food Parcel Program, it provides sustainable support that guarantees food security for endorsed families, relieving daily financial strain that might otherwise drive households toward desperate choices.

Furthermore, Dr. Al-Momani stressed the importance of viewing the family as an integrated unit in line with a rights-based approach to social protection. In this context, Tkiyet Um Ali’s database serves as a comprehensive benchmark and a vital resource for policymakers and key stakeholders to design more effective national policies responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable.

Ultimately, protecting children from school dropouts and child labor begins with securing a stable family environment. Through this holistic lens, the complementary model between "Tkiyet Um Ali" providing sustainable food security and "Dar Abu Abdullah "focusing on empowerment and capacity building offers an impactful pathway that begins by meeting basic human needs and extends toward enabling families to achieve true self-reliance.

You can watch the full episode on YouTube: Dr. Nahla Al-Momani discusses the direct link between food insecurity and the rise of child labor.