Why discourage people under 15 from migrating?
There are two reasons. First, there is an internationally agreed minimum age for work (ILO c138). Children under the age of 15 should remain in school and only migrate as part of a family unit. The longer they remain in school, the better their prospects of getting decent work. Second, we discourage young people from migrating because the younger they are, the more vulnerable they are to the deception and coercion of human traffickers. This doesnt mean they should never migrate. As adults, many will benefit from migration. But, when old enough, and only then, and before leaving home, they should fully investigate the potential job market and conditions of work at their destination, fully aware of the dangers of human trafficking. If using agents, they should use only ones who are government registered and that they know and trust.
