Economic Exploitation of Children in the Urban Context: A Case Study of Palembang City

: This article aims to examine children as victims often exploited in the social reality of society. The study is conducted to observe how children are utilized as instruments to meet economic needs, primarily by their parents. Additionally, this investigation seeks to examine, analyze the causative factors, and explore the implications resulting from economic exploitation of children. The approach in this paper is descriptive-qualitative, utilizing a library research method with readings and searches on the Google search engine related to "economic exploitation of children." The article reveals that children are positioned as tools to acquire resources for their parents. It also illustrates that socio-economic conditions often serve as a rationale for parents to exploit children economically


Introduction
Children, besides being a gift, are also a trust from God, often becoming victims harmed by social degradation.During economic recessions, children are used as commodities that can benefit parents, through various exploitations that have become part of a set of rules involving children.Socioeconomic conditions become a reason for parents to exploit children, and this practice has persisted for a long time and has become more intensive amid the increasing demands for the protection of children's rights, as declared by the United Nations. 1 Almost every country faces issues related to child exploitation.Septi states that the tradition of profiting from children has been ongoing for hundreds of years. 2 This practice, as pointed out by Akbar, is a tradition that has been happening through generations, and even maintained by parents to gain benefits.Thus, the practice of exploiting children becomes an important issue that needs to be addressed.
Studies examining child exploitation have tended to position children as objects that bear the consequences of exploitation. 3arents are recognized to have legitimacy over children, making it easy for them to force children to generate profits. 4Child exploitation can be seen as a space of coercion within cultural, economic, and political spheres used to generate income. 5hildren almost always become victims of individual or group interests, as seen in various forms of child exploitation, including begging, street performing, selling goods, Monica Monica, "Tinjauan Hukum Terhadap Eksploitasi Anak Di Bawah Umur Menurut Undang-Undang Perlindungan Anak Dan Undang-Undang prostitution, and involvement in drugs. 6hildren should also be viewed as the future generations of the nation. 7Within the family context, children are entrusted as a gift from Allah that must be protected, educated, and guided to be free from harm and to have a bright future, not to eliminate their future. 8Therefore, guidelines are needed to minimize the practice of child exploitation.
This paper aims to address existing gaps by analyzing the structure of child exploitation in the economy of Palembang city.Thus, the level of child exploitation increases, resulting in the loss of children's freedoms.Therefore, three important questions are proposed in this paper, including: This paper is based on the argument that in Palembang city, child exploitation is possible in a structured manner and continues to persist in society.Parents, even those who have legitimacy over children, often use this power to gain profits.For example, children on the streets are turned into street performers, street vendors, clowns, beggars, and more, making them the backbone of the family, even though their rights as children are lost as a result of child exploitation.Therefore, efforts are needed to change the pattern of child exploitation in Palembang city, which has been structured, so that children can obtain rights to a protected life, both by customs, the state, and religion.

Literature Review Exploitation
Exploitation in economic concepts is often associated with low-paying jobs that yield significant profits for the employers.From a moral perspective, Brown (2014) contends that exploitation naturally arises for self-beneficial interests. 9Exploitation is frequently employed in drug trafficking involving children and women. 10It also extends to the exploitation of natural resources, impacting ecosystem sustainability and environmental pollution. 11Children, as victims of economic exploitation, face cultural and social discrimination and intimidation. 12Hence, structured exploitation of children occurs, where they become vulnerable objects, resulting in risks to their freedom due to societal ignorance of children's rights. 13he threat of child exploitation induces fear in the victims, affecting their quality of life, well-being, education, mental health, and social reality. 14

Child
Children are considered a gift and treasure to parents.They have rights and obligations, including the basic needs of life, protection, and well-being, as outlined in the global Child Convention. 16Universally, anyone under 18 is categorized as a child.However, in reality, children often experience uncertainty, inequality, and dependence, lacking fair legal protection from their social structure and culture. 17According to Siregar, children are vulnerable individuals, prone to violence, exploitation, intimidation, and discrimination by both close individuals and society. 18Legal protection for children is conceptualized to fulfill their basic needs and provide a space for them to express themselves, preventing exploitation. 19n Indonesia, children are legally defined as those under 18 years old and

Poverty
Poverty is not just an economic issue but also relates to unmet basic human needs. 22It can manifest as both spiritual and material poverty, encompassing clothing, food, and shelter. 23Poverty is a global issue, including in Indonesia, with increasing numbers, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 24Poor communities often face negative stereotypes, with poverty linked to criminality. 25Poverty places individuals in disadvantageous positions due to complex economic factors and internal human factors. 26rimes resulting from poverty extend beyond mere criminal activities and can also manifest as exploitation to meet basic life needs. 27Social factors contribute to the rise and fall of poverty rates, as seen in Palembang, where poverty increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 28

Method
Poverty renders children as structured exploitation victims, leading to the neglect of their rights.The experiences of systematically exploited children can be explained through a qualitative descriptive study approach.The data in this paper consist of descriptions of various events obtained from online sources, focusing on the theme of "structured child exploitation" in Palembang.The discussion revolves around the perpetrators, victims, and individual and group structures exploiting these children.
From September 15 to October 9, 2022, the study involved reading data related to children involved in exploitation practices in Palembang.The readings revealed three themes chosen for discussion as significant findings in this paper.The data collection process involved systematically documenting all online data to gain insights, classifying data according to the paper's needs, and sharing it by theme and the characteristics of child exploitation in Palembang.The obtained data took the form of descriptive quotes from selected online news, classified and presented thematically.In addition to primary online data, this paper is supported by other secondary data sources related to and associated with the research object.Indepth data analysis was conducted to answer the research questions, referring to an interactive model of analysis.After the data collection, these components were reduced and presented before drawing conclusions.

Child Exploitation in Palembang
Child exploitation in Palembang is a well-known issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.Parents, seeking solutions for livelihood, exploit their children, leading to various forms of child exploitation.The following table presents instances of child exploitation in Palembang:

Child Exploitation in the Economy
Exploitation in various forms contributes to the economic challenges faced by children.Here are examples of child exploitation in the economy in Palembang:

Economic Levels in the City of Palembang
The economic situation in Palembang has shown signs of improvement after the COVID-19 pandemic.South Sumatra, one of the richest provinces in Indonesia, has focused on development and welfare.However, despite positive economic growth, poverty and unemployment persist: Table 3 outlines the economic indicators in Palembang, showing significant economic growth alongside persistent poverty and unemployment challenges, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.Despite economic progress, the increase in poverty and unemployment highlights the need for continued efforts to improve economic conditions and address related issues such as child exploitation.In conclusion, the economic situation in Palembang has faced challenges due to COVID-19.Efforts are being made to recover the economy and address issues of child exploitation.

Dynamics of Child Exploitation in Palembang
This text illustrates how the practice of child exploitation not only uses children as tools for profit but also results in the neglect of their rights and the loss of legal protection, systematically carried out by parents and close relatives.Child exploitation, as described by Baidawi et al., involves using a child as a tool for the profit of individuals who exploit them, either physically or verbally.Structured child exploitation takes various forms involving parents, families, and institutions.In general, systematic exploitation has long-term negative impacts on the psychological, psychological, and quality of life of exploited children.Exploitation often occurs for economic reasons, and it can be observed in both formal and informal ways.
Children, as victims of structured exploitation, also indicate the lack of realization of protection for children's rights, both legally and socially.Children are considered to lack full authority in determining their future life goals.Therefore, according to Herdiansyah, children have inherent rights taught in Islam concerning 29 Angly Branco Ontolay, "Hak Dan Kewajiban Orang Tua Dan Anak Ditinjau Dari Pasal 45 Juncto 46 children's rights in both the worldly and afterlife contexts.When these rights are not fulfilled, the life orientation of children is often determined and structured by a system, both legally and socially. 29In addition to being systematic and structured, child exploitation is sometimes willingly carried out.Economic factors and unmet living needs contribute to the increasing prevalence of child exploitation in society.

Structural Factors of Child Exploitation in Palembang
Economic limitations and the increasing cost of living are reasons for the ongoing practice of child exploitation.Additionally, the low knowledge of parents and society regarding children who are victims of exploitation significantly influences the mentality of children in the future.Noorani emphasizes that the state guarantees a child's survival through protection from discrimination, exploitation, neglect, and the process of their physical, mental, social, moral, and spiritual development.

Implications of Economic Exploitation Structure on Children in Palembang
Considering that child exploitation continues from generation to generation, knowledge and concepts related to systematic and structured child exploitation are essential for anticipating stimulant-based exploitation practices.Community organizations that employ children have previously made agreements with the parents who also benefit from these exploitative practices.The lack of clear law enforcement is a constraint in curbing child exploitation.Therefore, structured exploitation often occurs unconsciously and is well-organized.
Exploitation has long-term impacts on children's lives, both physical and mental.Children may experience low educational attainment, lack of affection, legal neglect, discrimination due to exploitation, and mental burdens.Furthermore, according to Faridah & although child labor exploitation is protected by the state, its implementation often lacks legal strength.Children lose various rights, including the right to play, freedom, protection, and are forced to become the family's breadwinners because parents are unwilling to work.Children's orientation is solely driven by the pursuit of money, often prioritizing work over education.
Children, as victims of systematic exploitation, not only face exploitation from parents, close relatives, and communities but also become agents in recruiting other children for exploitation.As stated by Khairunnisa, children who have been victims of sexual exploitation may sometimes become agents themselves, exploiting other children.Therefore, attention from parents, society, and communities is needed to ensure government protection, realizing children's rights as outlined in the global Convention on the Rights of the Child.Achieving this goal will minimize the practice of structured child exploitation in the lives of the Palembang community.

Conclussion
Child exploitation remains a pervasive issue in Palembang, where children are often victimized by individuals seeking personal gain through exploitative practices.This exploitation occurs openly and structurally, involving not only parents and close relatives but also communities.The lack of understanding and weak legal protection for children contribute to the prevalence of exploitation.Various factors, including economic challenges, unmet basic needs, and the interests of individuals seeking to exploit children, contribute to the continuation of these practices.Cultural norms that subordinate children and women further exacerbate the problem.
The implications for children who fall victim to exploitation are profound, encompassing low educational attainment, social unawareness, economic neglect, and a tendency to think negatively, resulting in significant psychological and emotional effects.Government intervention is crucial to protecting children from exploitation by ensuring basic needs are met, providing security within families and communities, and preventing exploitation in everyday life.
This research, focused on economic law in Islam, delves into the institutional aspects of exploitation in Palembang.It emphasizes the need for a legal institution to serve as a protective umbrella for children's rights within family law.Establishing legitimacy within family law is expected to minimize exploitative practices rooted in tradition and culture.The legal system regarding child exploitation implies the necessity of discursive dialogue for effective enforcement.Consequently, this research contributes to the field of Islamic law, particularly family law, closely related to the exploitation of children's rights in real-life situations.
The study underscores that child exploitation occurs at the smallest levels, such as within families and communities, and even within specific cultural contexts.However, it acknowledges limitations in fully capturing the broader patterns of forced exploitation within society.For a more comprehensive understanding, further analysis is recommended, especially regarding the relationship between talent development and exploitative practices.The study suggests the need for additional research that accommodates more representative cases and explores the relationship between culture and the systemic exploitation of children's rights.Such research would complement the scope of this study, providing a more in-depth analysis of systematic child exploitation.
. Reference (a) how is the structure of child exploitation in Palembang city, (b) what are the causes of child exploitation in Palembang city, and (c) what are the implications of exploitation on the rights of children in Palembang city.These questions are expected to be part of an effort to explain how child exploitation occurs in Palembang city in a structured manner, resulting in the loss of children's rights as part of society.

Table 1 :
Cases of Child Exploitation in Palembang

Table 2 :
Types of Child Exploitation in the Economic Context in Palembang

Table 3 :
Economic Situation and Poverty Indicators in Palembang