Quite the reverse. Every effort should be made to eliminate it. But it is part of a wider problem that must also be tackled. Working conditions and health and safety risks affecting children in small-scale mining differ widely according to whether work is underground or on the surface, the type of mineral being mined, and the type of processing that is carried out and children's involvement in it. Clearly those at greatest risk should be the primary focus of programmes to stop their participation and prevent it recurring.
Most children work to support their family or to earn money for themselves.
At least the families stay together. The more remote and more informal a small-scale mining activity, the more likely children are to be involved. Remoteness means that child care or schooling no longer offer an alternative to children working. It also removes the likelihood of there being other, less dangerous employment for them and the possibility of regular inspection to ensure that labour codes are being adhered to. The more informal the operation, the less the regard for regulations that limit the involvement of children in paid or unpaid work.