Child Labor Research Articles

Child labour and students’ academic performance in selected primary school pupils’ in Nyahuka town council, Bundibugyo district

The study titled child labor and students’ school dropouts was conducted in selected primary schools in Nyahuka town council, Bundibugyo district. The research aimed to identify the main causes of school dropouts, examine the correlation between child labor and students’ academic performance, and explore strategies to reduce school dropouts in the area. A descriptive research design was employed, with a sample size of 90 respondents, including teachers, head teachers, and students. Findings revealed that school dropouts were primarily driven by socio-economic challenges, particularly family poverty, engagement in petty jobs, and lack of basic necessities. Additionally, parental education levels significantly influenced students’ ability to stay in school, as many parents failed to act as role models or provide academic support. The study established a strong link between child labor and school dropouts, highlighting its negative effects such as limited study time, anxiety, loss of morale, and poor academic performance. The study concluded that poverty compels both parents and children to seek alternative income sources through voluntary and involuntary child labor, which ultimately diverts students from education. It recommended that parents of children engaged in labor receive counseling to understand the importance of education. Moreover, stricter government regulations should be enforced against employers and parents who exploit underage children. Lastly, fostering self-esteem among learners, teachers, and parents was emphasized as a means to promote educational success. Keywords: child labor, school dropouts, academic performance, parental influence, poverty and education

Breaking The Cycle of Lost Innocence: An In-Depth Study on The Impact of Child Labor on Children in Bangladesh

Child labor remains a critical issue in Bangladesh, where millions of children are deprived of their basic rights to education, safety, and a childhood free from exploitation. This paper aims to comprehensively examine the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to child labor in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on its socioeconomic impact. The primary objectives of this research are to identify the underlying factors contributing to child labor, analyze its effects on the lives of children, and propose actionable policy interventions to address the issue. This study adopts a qualitative research approach using secondary data analysis to examine the issue of child labour in Bangladesh. Data is collected from a variety of sources, including government reports, international organizations, academic articles, media reports, and NGO publications. A qualitative content analysis method is then used to identify key themes, conduct comparative analysis with global case studies, and evaluate policy effectiveness. The findings demonstrated culturally relevant socioeconomic effects of child labour measuring the physical & mental health impact to this group of child labourers as well as providing limited human capital ensuring they remain in a dark wheel of never being able to better their situation, rarely having the opportunity to attend any school and existing in a perpetual process of poverty. Child labor also contributes to the economic problem of the wider nation, including inequality and economic inefficiency. Thus, it is concluded that to break the history of child labor in Bangladesh we need a multidimensional remedy starting with tighter enforcement of laws, better access to education and interdisciplinary poverty mitigation programs which should be taken place along with the International agencies and Organizations driving the need to protect the political economy of child labor.

‘The barriers between work and play have broken down’: industrious ‘alternative’ education 1970s–1980s

This article examines aspects of the turbulent history of a small community-organised alternative school (the Education Reform Association (ERA) school, 1971–87), for the purpose of better understanding schooling as a site for the making of late twentieth-century ‘industriousness’. Focusing on how the school’s organisers aimed to challenge traditional routines of schoolwork, we propose that viewing the school’s history from the perspective of the labour of teachers, parents and children can shed fresh light on historical shifts in the complex relationship between school and work and also on a significant period (1970–80s) in ‘progressive’ school reform activism.

Child Laborers’ Exposure to Physical Maltreatment in Rural Bangladesh: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Abstract Child maltreatment is a global public health concern. A high percentage of children working in rural informal sectors in Bangladesh experiences physical maltreatment. This area of study, however, remains understudied. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of physical maltreatment of child laborers in rural Bangladesh. A total of 200 child laborers and parents were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, including the ICAST-CH and ICAST-P survey tools. Multivariable linear regression was performed using SPSS and STATA software to analyze data. Above 66% of child laborers experienced being hit, beaten, or spanked with a bare hand, followed by 53% being pushed, grabbed, or kicked sometimes in the past year. In addition, 35% of parents reported that their children had been hit on the head with a knuckle, and 30% reported their child had been hit on the buttock with an object once/twice in the past year. This study identified that the parents’ employment in service sectors (β = –0.87, p = 0.04), an increase in individual (β = –1.92, p = 0.02), and household income (β = –0.98, p = 0.02) significantly reduced the child laborers’ risk of experiencing physical maltreatment. Conversely, the rate of physical maltreatment increased with the extension of working hours (β = 0.52, p < 0.01). There is a need for extensive studies on the physical maltreatment of child laborers. The study suggests reformulations and adaptations to policy and the provision of social safety net programs in rural areas to prevent physical maltreatment of child laborers.

The Place of a Child on Platforms: Responsibilities, Obligations, and Expectations

This panel delves into the complex entanglement of children within our 'platform society,' spotlighting their roles amidst the dynamics of platformisation, datafication, and monetisation. It scrutinises the emergence of child influencers, mapping their integration and active participation within the influencer economy. This exploration underscores the critical intersection between childhood and platformization, highlighting the commodification and monetization practices shaping children's presence on platforms. The panel seeks to understand these practices across diverse contexts, including time, platforms, geographies, and cultures, emphasizing the multifaceted roles of children as consumers, producers, and actors. The panel also examines regulatory frameworks surrounding children on platforms, focusing on governance issues related to child labour, advertising, and platform liability. It navigates the tension between viewing children as 'becomings' in need of protection and as 'beings' with an agency, contributing to the discourse on platform governance and regulatory practices. Presenting a range of papers, the panel traverses topics from the monetization of children in influencer content on TikTok, to the offering of a child influencer taxonomy, to the influence of kidfluencers on young viewers' consumption behaviors. It critically assesses the impact of digital dashboards on parenting, illustrating how children's health, location, and well-being are intertwined with datafication logic. Collectively, these papers illuminate how the place of children online is contested, as they become embroiled in practices of monetisation, visibility, and datafication across platforms and infrastructures. Our panellists draw from their empirical and theoretical work to challenge these practices, emphasising their implications for platform governance and addressing how regulations can serve children's best interests.

Unveiling the Economic Determinants of Child Labour in Africa: A Comprehensive Study of 37 Countries

Unveiling the Economic Determinants of Child Labour in Africa: A Comprehensive Study of 37 Countries

Gender Disparities in Child Labor and Economic Development in Nepal

Child labor continues to be a significant problem in Nepal, particularly in rural areas where poverty and restricted access to education contribute to the perpetuation of the cycle of economic deprivation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the gender differences in child work and the consequences such differences have for the improvement of Nepal's economy. Utilizing information obtained from the Nepal Living Standards Survey (NLSS) conducted in 1995, this study illustrates the numerous ways in which gender influences decisions about child work and schooling. Particular attention is paid to the role that poverty, access to credit, and household characteristics have in these decisions. As a result of the findings, it appears that girls are more likely to be engaged in household work and less likely to attend school in comparison to males. This has ramifications for Nepal's economic development in the long run. In order to address these discrepancies and to promote gender equality in school and the labor market, policy solutions are presented throughout this article.

Responsible Sourcing and Child Labour in Mica Mining in South Asia

: Global demand for mica is increasing due to heavy consumption of mica in the automobile, manufacturing, construction, and cosmetic industries. As per the Mica Market reports, the global Mica market is expanding and Asia Pacific dominates with a share of 40%. China is one of the leading producers and exporters of mica since 2020. Many popular mica companies are engaged in the production and extraction of mica and in other related business activities. Many beauty companies are under surveillance due to the involvement of child labour in mica mines. Unfortunately, many children are still engaged in mining work and many ‘ghost mines’ are functional in India and South Africa. This paper will present an overview of responsible mica sourcing, child labour in mica mines, related problems and their working conditions in South Asia. This article presents an bibliometric analysis of responsible sourcing and child labour in mica mines in the South Asian region. Keywords: Responsible Sourcing, Ethical Mining, Ghost Mines

PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN INDIA: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Agricultural laborers are the socially and economically poorest section of the society. Agricultural laborers are those who work on the land of others on wages. They constitute the historically deprived social groups, displaced handicraftsmen, and dispossessed peasantry. They are the poorest of the poor in rural India. Overcrowding and growth of agricultural laborers continued unabated, given poor labor absorption in the non-agricultural sector and also inadequacies of reforms in the agrarian structure. They are facing a multitude of challenges, including low wages, seasonal employment, irregular working hours, lack of job security, high debt levels, exploitation of child and women labor, etc. The present labor force survey report stated the percentage of workers in the agriculture sector increased marginally from 45.5 percent in 2021-22 to 45.8 percent in 2022-23 and 46.1 percent in 2023-24. The wages of agriculture varied state to state, ranging between Rs. 200 and 300. In the same way, they do not get a regular basis of work, and to a large extent, they remain unemployed and underemployed. This chapter attempts to critically examine the agricultural laborers in India who face a variety of problems and challenges. Still, the government enacted many policies and schemes for resolving labor problems in India but failed to stop migration to other sectors and unemployment. KEY WORDS: Agricultural Labours, Problems, Causes, Schemes, Polices

Understanding the Determinants of Adolescent Pregnancy among an Indigenous Community in Rural Nepal: A Qualitative Exploration

ABSTRACTIntroductionAdolescent pregnancy is a global concern, with a higher occurrence among more disadvantaged groups. Within Nepal's highly marginalized Chepang community, adolescent pregnancies are notably more prevalent. This study aimed to understand the determinants of adolescent pregnancy among Chepang community in Raksirang Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District of Nepal using qualitative methods.MethodsThe study was conducted from September 2022 to April 2023. Twenty participants (10 in‐depth interviews and 10 key informant interviews) were recruited through judgmental sampling. An interview guide was used for interviewing the participants. All interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using R‐based Qualitative Data Analysis package. Braun and Clarke's six‐step thematic analysis was used to perform analysis.ResultsSix key themes were identified as determinants of adolescent pregnancy among Chepang community: (i) inadequate access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services, (ii) gaps in programmatic implementation, (iii) elopement marriage as a form of escape, (iv) discontinuation of education, (v) limited knowledge and understanding of marriage, pregnancy, and childbirth, and (vi) early pregnancy as a sign of prosperity. Challenges such as difficult geographical terrain, limited access to adolescent‐friendly healthcare, gender inequality, child labor, weak enforcement of child marriage laws, and societal stigma exacerbated these determinants.ConclusionA multifaceted approach, including improved access to adolescent‐friendly healthcare, enforcement of child marriage laws, access to secondary education, efforts to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health, and a shift in sociocultural norms, should be implemented to reduce adolescent pregnancy in the Chepang community.

Causes of School Dropouts in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2021

The Ministry of Education (MOE-KRG) conducted a campaign for raising awareness among students, parents and local communities. Despite this operation and many other efforts by the Kurdistan Regional Government to reform the education sector targeting all aspects, numerous challenges remain that are hereditary and persistent. These challenges involve socioeconomic, institutional, and cultural dimensions and factors. This research paper studied these factors enumerating the differences between genders and between urban and rural areas in the Kurdistan region. This paper analyzed survey data officially obtained from the MOE-KRG using quantitative approaches. This paper conducted multiple Pearson’s Chi-Square tests and cross-tabulation analyses. Results indicated that there are statically significant differences between male students and female students in terms of child labor, disabilities, and school distance, which dropping out rates among male students were higher than those of female students due to these factors. Furthermore, dropping out of school was more common among seventh graders. Hence, it is essential to expand the role of the social workers in schools to support students and reduce rates of dropping out of schools, in addition to raising awareness in the communities and implement policy reform in the education system.

Children s video blogging: risks and ways to improve legislation

The rapid increase in the availability of Internet technologies is attracting more users to social networks, giving people around the world the opportunity to share their creativity. In this regard, children are increasingly on screens, creating content that can attract the attention of millions of viewers. However, along with the opportunities provided by video blogging, there are serious risks associated with the exploitation of child labor and the impact on the development and psyche of the child. Today, 99% of Russian children aged 14–17 go online from time to time [1]. In this article, we look at what protection mechanisms exist for children engaged in video blogging, and also highlight the main problems associated with children's activities on the Internet.

The Impact of Child Labour on Human Capital Formation in Nepal

The Impact of Child Labour on Human Capital Formation in Nepal

The Role of Microfinance in Reducing Child Labour in Nepal

In Nepal, child labor is still a major problem that is fueled by ingrained societal norms, limited educational opportunities, and economic hardship. This study examines how microfinance might be used to address the underlying reasons of child labor in order to decrease it. In order to raise household income, lessen economic vulnerability, and enhance access to education, microfinance institutions (MFIs) provide financial services such microloans, savings accounts, and insurance products. Microfinance and child labor, however, have a complicated relationship with both beneficial and detrimental effects. Microfinance can help reduce poverty and the need for child labor, but it can also unintentionally make child labor more in demand in family-run businesses. This study investigates how microfinance affects household income, educational opportunities, and awareness-raising initiatives in Nepal by drawing on case studies and current literature. According to the research, microfinance can considerably lower child labor if financial products are properly planned and executed and paired with more extensive socioeconomic initiatives. Developing kid-sensitive financial products, incorporating awareness programs, and working with governmental and non-governmental organizations to address the root causes of child labor are some of the main recommendations. In the end, microfinance can be a potent instrument in building a future where all Nepali children have the chance to learn, develop, and prosper, even while it cannot end child labor on its own.

Child Labor and Academic Performance of Selected Secondary Schools in Bulambuli District

Amidst poor academic performance in Bulambuli district, the present study investigated the child labor on academic performance of students in Bulambuli district, Uganda using a cross sectional research design to determine characteristic social of respondents involved in academic performance in Bulambuli district, to determine effects of child labor on academic performance of students and pupils of Bulambuli district out how a supportive home environment is related to the academic performance in Bulambuli district. A sample size of 100 respondents was determined from target population using Slovene’s formula, and random sampling was employed to select participants based on experience and position. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and later analyzed using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. The study showed that majority 40(52%) of respondents were in the age bracket of 20-29 years with 32(40%) married compared to their counterparts. Majority 51(64%) were females and 29(36%) males with at least most of them having attained varies levels of education such as certificate, diploma, degree and masters. The study also revealed strong relationship between supportive indiscipline and academic performance in Bulambuli district with majority 30(38%) of respondents strongly agreeing that street life can greatly influence academic performance of learners. The findings also showed that majority of respondents strongly agreed that early marriage can greatly affect academic performance and has a very big influence on the learners. It was also observed that majority 33(41%) of respondents agreed that learners in non-supportive environment struggle a lot in their academic performance by facing challenges of accessing learning equipment’s compared to only 24(30%) and 14(18%) who agreed and strongly disagreed with the findings. The researcher also recommended that learners should be provided with a serene home environment for learners by giving them proper time and educative environment at home. The researcher also recommends that educators should encourage parents and school administrators to teach good morals to their children which is necessary means of academic success. Keywords: Child labour; Academic performance; Supportive home environment; Early marriage; Bulambuli district

The Ethics and Values in A Christmas Carol for Gen-Z

Charles Dickens is one of the greatest novelists of his era as his works, echo the socio-political and economic scenario of his times, that witnessed Industrial Revolution, child labor, hazardous factory life, to name a few. His complex and vivid storytelling has left a significant and remarkable mark on literature. Some of his works include A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Bleak House, A Tale of Two Cities, and Our Mutual Friend. The novel A Christmas Carol deals with amelioration of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold-hearted businessman into a man of values with the help of three phantoms during Christmas by taking him on a roller coaster ride of his past and his future if he were to change over a new leaf. The novella is didactic exhibiting valuable lessons for Gen-Z, walloped in technology and moving far from family and value systems.

Forward-Thinking: How a Century Ago Protecting Women and Children in the Workplace Laid the Groundwork for Gender Medicine and Decent Work.

Dr. Livia Lollini, a physician and an early pioneer in women's occupational health, authored a paper published as the lead article in the inaugural issue of La Medicina del Lavoro, which adopted its current title in 1925. Her work, La protezione della donna e del fanciullo sul lavoro (The Protection of Women and Children at Work), constitutes one of her contributions to labor protections for women and children in early 20th-century Italy. Born into a family distinguished by socialist and feminist ideals, she completed her medical education in 1913. Subsequently, she served as an assistant at the Clinica del Lavoro in Milan, where she addressed various issues related to occupational health. Drawing from international labor laws, Dr. Lollini critiqued the inadequate enforcement of existing legislation in Italy and emphasized the notable disparities in maternity protections. Her analysis highlighted the need to safeguard women's health at the workplace and called for systemic reforms, including implementing regular medical examinations, female labor inspectors, and industrial nursing services. Her work, grounded in gender-sensitive approaches to occupational health, continues to resonate with contemporary principles of gender medicine. Although substantial advancements in labor legislation have been realized, many of the challenges she addressed-such as child labor, maternity rights, and workplace safety-remain central to global discussions surrounding decent work and equitable labor practices.

Child Labor in International Agreements and Iraqi Law

Child Labor in International Agreements and Iraqi Law

Child labor in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh: A survey based analysis

Child labor is a sobering reality in a modern society, when it has been practiced over numerous decades and has led to such inhumane consequences for children. Due to poverty, poor family conditions, socio-economic fragility, phenomena like child labor have been observed globally. In terms of South Asian countries, in many instances it is a source of survival for poor families who have resorted to selling their offspring, or sending them to work, to survive. However, due to a dearth of research the full situation regarding child labor is not clear. This study, with its survey, aimed to provide more details about child labor in Rajshahi city in Bangladesh. A convenience sampling method of 40 children who work in several sectors in the city was selected, and a questionnaire administered to them. The participants socio-economic conditions, working environment, health impacts and other information were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. It was found that 62.5% of child workers had come into the working sector due to their family circumstances. It was also found that 60% of child laborers work about 8–14 hours daily and 45% reported that are physically abused at their workplace. Findings suggest policy makers, government, and NGO’s need to take collaborative endeavors to overcome this inhumane practice to achieves better condition for the children, which will also ensure a better future for the nation.

Nep 2020: Curtailing Dropout Rates and Ensuring Universal Access to Education at All Level

Education is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for societal progress. However, despite various governmental initiatives dropout rates in India. Remain alarming high, particularly after primary and secondary levels, this study examines the factors contributing to school dropouts including financing constraints distance to school, readmission difficulties, child labor, family disputes and infrastructural challenges. The impact of COVID 19 further worsened the situation leading to rise dropout rates due to economic hardships & loss of academic interest among students. Government program such as Mid-Day meal (1995), Right to Education Act (2009) & Rastriya Madhyamika Shikha Abhiyan (2009) has been implemented to improve Enrollment, Retention & quality of Education. The NEP 2020 aims to achieve a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio by (2035) through infrastructural development, Alternative Education models & Distance learning programs. Despite these efforts, challenges such as poor school facilities teacher shortages and socio-cultural barrier persist. Addressing these issues requires a multi-facilitates approach including better tracking of students increased community involvements.