020 - PATCHWORK OF CARPETS IN MARRAKECH, MOROCCO (31°37’ N, 8°00’ W).
Along with Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia, Morocco is a major centre of carpet production. The carpets are traditionally made of wool, a symbol of protection and happiness, and may incorporate silk, cotton, and sometimes camel or goat hair. The colours and designs are characteristic of the production regions, and the High Atlas Mountains, at the foot of which Marrakech lies, offer the warmest hues. The carpets are woven primarily by women workers, along with some children. Child labour has become a national issue in Morocco, where almost 600,000 children under the age of 14 are obliged to work and have no access to education. Worldwide there are 352 million child workers between the ages of 5 and 14, including more than 246 million who work illegally and almost 171 million in dangerous conditions. Asia accounts for 61 percent of child labour, Africa 30 percent, and Latin America 7 percent. Some products now include a label which guarantees to consumers that their purchase was made without child labour.