Are Migrant Children at Risk of Child Labour? Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

Child labour is a universal concern as one child in every ten is engaged in child labour globally. Pakistan is no exception to this trend. This study attempts to identify the role of migration on children’s vulnerability to work. For that purpose, this study evaluates the demographic and household attributes, collected from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) (2017–2018), and Logit regression is used for empirical analysis. The findings reveal that migration is one of the decisive determinants of child labour, which is triggered by the high economic and social disparities existing across space in Pakistan. Therefore, balanced growth policies are recommended that require attention to the socio-economic development across all regions and provinces of the country. The study also emphasises the role of both supply-side and demand-side factors in controlling the menace; poverty alleviation reforms, development of social institutions in rural areas, and greater enforcement of child labour laws are strongly recommended.