According to the ILO, 168 million children were engaged in hard labor in 2012, 73 million of whom were under the age of 12 and 85 million were engaged in hazardous work. 59% of them were engaged in agricultural labor. Economic statistics show that child labor declines as a country economically develops. In 1973, the ILO Convention on Minimum Age of Employment set 15 years as the date for entering the workforce (14 years in developing countries), with "light work" permitted for children between 12 and 14. What are the benefits of safe and productive work for teenagers and older children