the report of the pilot project - International Labour Organization

Report of the Pilot Research Project on Children Working in Cultural and Artistic Activities
As to the question about the impact of working on their children’s education, mothers say this heavy
work affects the educational of their children negatively. One mother says her child is sleepless after
long hours of shooting and sometimes falls asleep there, but he still does not complain since he likes
it too much. Another mother remarked that occasionally she takes her child early from his school
and there is no space in sets for children to study. While she was attending primary school, she had
to exercise her line drawing assignments on chairs in the set and she had to move to another place
with her materials when she was told to move out by the crew: I wish there were a table at least son
you can do your homework; I wish there was a stove. But there was none. Moreover, having seen my
school uniform and school kit, nobody ever asked me where I studied or did homework in the set.”
Her mother says she calls other parents to learn about what is going on in lessons while her daughter is
out of school in sets and it is quite diffi cult for her. She adds that while there is a clause in the contract
about respect to school hours, it is never observed. One of the mothers said her child occasionally
misses school and she attends a private course to remedy. It is stated that there are some lead players
who miss school for 2-3 months and others who are still illiterate after fi nishing the 1st grade.
One of the mothers say her two daughters have been acting in side roles for three years in various
TV series and this is because they like acting rather than pecuniary matters. She adds that school
attendance, tests and engagement in acting do not leave children any time for rest and leisure: “In
a week, my daughter attends her school half a day, goes to her private course on the other half and
devotes one day to her role. She has no time to rest. We can only use Sundays to cruise around or go
to cinema with her and her peers.” The mother stated that she would like her child to continue his/her
education and picks another profession, but she also underlined that she does not understand why the
teacher refuses the child to be employed.
Mothers state that they accompany their children in their work and never leave them alone. On this
matter, we observed that mothers are together with their children while waiting for their turn, but not
around when shooting starts. While some mothers say “working conditions prevent us to be with our
children” others add “the child can neither spend time with his friends”. Still they are content about
one point: “It is nice that your child is popular and admired. It pleases me to see people who want to
hug and kiss my child and to have a photo with him.”
The mother of a boy who is appearing in a fi lm says his son’s cuteness and easily adapting character
was effective in fi nding this job. She says before acting in this fi lm her son used to be with his father
in his workplace and now he devotes his time fully to acting. “We were in the set while he was 2
and we have been here for 1.5 years now. It has become a part of our life. They are careful and
responsive here. May son too is easy to get along and a social character. He communicates well with
his environments and he’s got used to it. He was about to start speaking when he fi rst came to the set.”
One of the fathers interviewed says he plans his time according to his children’s work and is interested
in their career as actors: “I take children to the set with my own car. As a disabled person, I work three
days a week, so I can spare time to be with my children. My youngest son is taking drama training for
seven years. He stages plays and acts in his school. His teachers are very happy about it. My elder
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