Child Labor Research Articles

Exploring Legal and Non-Legal Approaches to Eliminating Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry In Ghana

Abstract The problem of child labor in cocoa-producing countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast has been projected into the international limelight due to coverage by notable international media organizations like CNN, BBC, and Al Jazeera. The incidence of child labor in the cocoa industry raises legal and ethical issues in the production and manufacturing processes that feed into international trade. This paper explores the international legal framework on child labor under the Minimum Age Convention and the consistency of Ghanaian domestic law with the Convention. It further discusses empirical data collected from Anyinam, a cocoa farming community in the Eastern Region of Ghana and the sustainability programme of Federated Commodities Ltd. (FEDCO), as a private sector responsible business initiative aimed at addressing the problem of child labor from a holistic approach.

Empirical analysis of child labour, household poverty, and child health in Ghana

AbstractThe paper studies the effect of household poverty on child labour (CL) and explores how CL affects working children's health using an instrumental variable strategy. After correcting for endogeneity, we find that household poverty significantly contributes to the incidence of CL whilst increasing the working hour of children increases the likelihood that working children would sustain wounds/cuts, get skin diseases, or get burned by fire, signifying the adverse effect of CL on child health in Ghana. These findings are robust to different approaches to addressing endogeneity. The study recommends that while it is imperative to implement policies to reduce children's engagement in all hazardous forms of child work and to protect the health of working children, government policies that address poverty might also be necessary.

Bridging the gap: understanding out-of-school children in Pakistan

ABSTRACT Education plays a central role in promoting social inclusion, respect and dignity and therefore contributes significantly to economic and social progress. The accessibility and quality of education are directly related to the development of any country. Therefore, ensuring equal access to quality education is crucial for sustainable economic growth, especially in developing countries. UNICEF’s ranking of Pakistan as the country with the second highest number of school dropouts in the world stimulated this study to address the alarming problem of large numbers of out-of-school children in marginalized communities such as Pakistan. The study aims to examine the multiple factors that stimulate dropout rates or out of school, including socioeconomic status, geographical location, child-related characteristics, child labor, skills and attitudes. Using data from MICS Wave 6 in Pakistan, this study proposes recommendations for educators and policymakers aimed at promoting equal educational opportunity and inclusive growth around the world.

Child Labor Bans, Employment, and School Attendance: Evidence from Changes in the Minimum Working Age

Abstract This paper investigates the effect of a unique child labor ban regulation on employment and school enrollment. The ban, implemented in Mexico in 2015, increased the minimum working age from 14 to 15, introduced restrictions to employing underage individuals, and imposed stricter penalties for violation of the law. Our identification strategy relies on a DiD approach that exploits the date of birth as a natural cutoff to assign individuals into treatment and control groups. The ban led to a decrease in the probability to work by 1.2 percentage points, resembling a 16 percent decrease in the probability to work relative to the pre-reform mean, and an increase in the probability of being enrolled in school by 2.2 percentage points for the treatment group. These results are driven by a reduction in employment in paid work, and in the manufacturing and services sectors. The effects are persistent several years after the ban.

Evaluating the Kuznets curve relationship between economic growth and child labor in an emerging economy

PurposeThis study aims to test the Kuznets curve between economic growth and child labor, along with the influence of exports, household size and rural population in the context of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the research objective, this study applied the unit root test, bound co-integration test, and autoregressive distributive lags (ARDL) method for the period of 1972–2021.FindingsThe findings show an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic growth and child labor indicating that at the beginning stage of economic development, child labor increases due to lower per capita household and subsequently, in the long-run of economic development, child labor decreases due to the higher per capita households. Moreover, the results also show that exports, household size and rural population have a positive influence on increasing child labor.Research limitations/implicationsThe policymakers and government of Pakistan need to focus on long-term economic growth policies, ensure free quality education and cheap equipment which practices minimum manpower to reduce the threat of child labor.Social implicationsHaving long-run economic growth, the government of Pakistan need to equally benefit the households and the poor population to reduce child labor and enhance the social welfare of society.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the Kuznets curve relationship between economic growth and child labor in the context of Pakistan. Moreover, this study contributes to the reduction in child labor through long-term economic growth in the context of Pakistan.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2023-0387

An Assessment of the Critical Success Factors of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Lusaka, Zambia

This research focuses on the critical success and failure factors of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Lusaka, Zambia, addressing a vital aspect of the financial landscape that impacts small businesses and low-income individuals. Despite the positive role of MFIs in providing financial assistance to entrepreneurs, recent closures of six institutions in Zambia underscore the need to understand the factors influencing their success or failure. The problem statement highlights the potential consequences of MFI closures, such as negative impacts on women, increased poverty levels, income inequality, child labor, and barriers to sustainable local economic development. Notably, the study aims to fill a research gap by assessing factors affecting MFIs' operations in Zambia, particularly those leading to closures, which the Bank of Zambia has not yet addressed or documented. The research objectives are clear and specific, intending to assess both critical failure factors from MFIs that have closed in Lusaka and critical success factors for the functioning of MFIs in the region. Additionally, the study aims to suggest measures to enhance the application of these critical success factors. Moving into the research methodology, an exploratory research design is chosen, providing a foundation for assessing the critical success factors of MFIs in Zambia. The mixed-method approach, incorporating qualitative and quantitative strategies, enhances the comprehensiveness of the study. The target population comprises 29 registered MFIs in Lusaka, and a one-stage cluster sampling technique is applied to select 10 MFIs with 60 key informants. The use of questionnaires for data collection, both open and closed-ended, facilitates the gathering of both qualitative and quantitative information. Ethical considerations are diligently addressed, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, justice, anonymity, and protection from harm. In the discussion of findings, a demographic analysis reveals important characteristics of the respondent base, emphasizing the predominantly male representation and the prevalence of tertiary education among participants. Objective one focuses on assessing critical failure factors, with limited access to funding, operational efficiency, and limited financial literacy emerging as primary challenges. Objective two delves into critical success factors, highlighting financial stability, marketing strategies, technology adoption, and outreach to the underserved population as significant considerations. Objective three provides insights into measures employed by MFIs, such as technology integration, capacity building, customer-centric approaches, and risk management systems. The recommendations emphasize diversification of funding sources, tailored financial literacy initiatives, operational efficiency optimization, and enhanced community engagement to address identified challenges. In summary, this study contributes valuable insights into the dynamics of MFIs in Lusaka, offering practical recommendations for their sustained success and impact on local communities.

Entrepreneurship and human capital development in children: The case of Tanzania

ABSTRACT This paper examines the contribution of household non-farm enterprises (NFEs) to human capital development in children, measured through child labour and schooling. We use nationally representative panel data from Tanzania and control for observed and time-invariant unobserved factors in pooled least squares and household fixed effects estimations. Both contemporaneous and dynamic analyses are performed separately for boys and girls and for different types of NFEs, including those with and without employees, as well as father- and mother-owned NFEs. We find that father-owned and NFEs without employees are associated with less child labour on average. The impacts on schooling are not consistently estimated, except for girls and father-owned NFEs. Less child labour among boys is associated with father’s NFEs and among girls with NFEs hiring employees. Our findings indicate that NFEs may contribute to reducing the child labour problem, but they may be insufficient for resolving low school attendance.

Primary school student’s mental wellbeing at schools considering the current situation in Afghanistan

This study investigates the mental wellbeing of children in primary school in Afghanistan during periods of political instability, specifically focusing on the Taliban's takeover of power in 2021. The study addresses the complex obstacles encountered by children, such as gender-based limitations on education, financial difficulties resulting in child labor, restrictions on personal independence, and changes in educational objectives, through the use of qualitative interviews conducted with teachers and students from different regions. The findings indicate significant impacts on the mental well-being of students, characterized by gender inequalities, financial difficulties, and limited liberties. Teachers also face obstacles such as evolving rules and financial hardships, which can impact their mental health. The evaluation also emphasizes the lack of supportive programs and healthcare services in Afghan schools. This research offers valuable perspectives on the experiences of students and instructors, which can help address the mental health crisis affecting primary school children in Afghanistan.

Beyond the Walls: Patterns of Child Labour, Forced Labour, and Exploitation in a New Domestic Workers Dataset

The new Domestic Workers Dataset is the largest single set of surveys (n = 11,759) of domestic workers to date. Our analysis of this dataset reveals features about the lives and work of this “hard-to-find” population in India—a country estimated to have the largest number of people living in forms of contemporary slavery (11 million). The data allow us to identify child labour, indicators of forced labour, and patterns of exploitation—including labour paid below the minimum wage—using bivariate analysis, factor analysis, and spatial analysis. The dataset also helps to advance our understanding of how to measure labour exploitation and modern slavery by showing the value of “found data” and participatory and citizen science approaches.

Analysis of Child Labor Rights Fulfillment Based on Maqashid Syariah

Child Labor is a serious problem that has attracted national and international public attention. The purpose of writing this article is to analyze in depth the review of the fulfillment of child Labor rights based on maqashid sharia. This article's research method uses a type of normative legal research using secondary data obtained through literature study. The collected data was then analyzed descriptively qualitatively using a conceptual approach, namely the concept of maqashid sharia. The results and findings in this article are that Islam places the fulfillment of children's rights as an important thing to realize. The general aim of Allah SWT in sending down the Shari'a is to bring about benefits. The basic concept of benefit is realizing benefits and preventing harm. The practice of child Labor is prohibited, because it conflicts with the five main principles of maqashid sharia, namely the protection of religion, soul, mind, property and descendant, which are primary needs (dharuriyyah) that must be fulfilled in humans. The priority of a child's age is to fulfill the rights of religion, soul, reason and heredity rather than fulfilling the need for wealth.

Does the education system matter? Exploring in-depth joint school attendance, hazardous and non-hazardous activities in artisanal and small-scale mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

PurposeThis paper explores the deconstruction of child labour in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites, highlighting different perspectives. Despite the economic benefits to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), ASM poses challenges, particularly where children are concerned. Methodology: Our study uses a convergent parallel mixed methods approach to interpret qualitative and qualitative data based on the conceptual framework of human capital. Trivariate probit and Tobit models were used for quantitative data and content analysis was employed for qualitative data. We collected primary data by interviewing children involved in artisanal mining activities. Interviews were conducted with consent from the children and their parents or guardians. We adopt snowball sampling due to the lack of a database. The Centre of Expertise on Mining Governance (CEGEMI) developed the data collection instruments in collaboration with Inner City Fund (ICF) International and validated by the United States Department of Labour. FindingsWe found that limited access to education leads to decreased school attendance rates among children, pushing them towards engaging in hazardous and non-hazardous economic activities within the DRC's mining areas. Moreover, excessive working hours negatively impact children's academic performance. Consequently, there is a trade-off between attending school and engaging in child labour at ASM sites in the DRC. LimitationsThis study did not consider domestic activities carried out by children. This could give even more detailed results. Public policy implicationsGovernments and partners must prioritise creating a comprehensive list of hazardous activities for children in the ASM context. Careful conceptualisation is necessary to ensure the clarity and effectiveness of this list. Raising awareness about the merits of removing children from activities related to mining is important for households living in and around ASM sites. Interventions aiming to reduce child labour and increase school attendance in ASM zones must remain mindful of the socio-economic and school infrastructure needs.

Risk and resilience factors for primary school dropout in Côte d'Ivoire

We examined child-, family-, and school-level risk and resilience factors associated with school dropout using longitudinal data of fifth-grade students in rural Côte d'Ivoire (N = 1195, Mage = 10.75, SDage = 1.42). Children who dropped out of school were older, involved in more child labour, had poorer literacy skills, owned fewer books, and attended schools with poorer learning environments. Cumulative risk (CR) indices revealed that child-level CR was most strongly associated with dropout (b = 0.86, OR = 0.42) compared to family- and school-level CR; further, children with low child-level CR were more likely to drop out when family-level CR was high (b = −0.23, OR = 1.25). Better school infrastructure and teachers were protective for children who were at high risk of dropout yet remained enrolled. Although child- and family-level factors contribute to risk of dropout, school-level factors may mitigate risks and promote academic resilience among students in West Africa.

Economic Importance of Hidden Child Labour among Poor Rural Families of West Bengal, India: An Investigation through Field Experiment

This article investigates whether school-going children’s participation as ‘not directly paid’ family labourers in domestic chores and/or economic activities helps their families to improve their livelihood in rural West Bengal. The findings indicate that the likelihood of hidden child labour is greater when the child’s father is old, the child is not an infant, the household possesses positive operational assets and the child’s mother is part of a self-help group. Parental positive attitude towards their child’s education can also reduce the incidence of hidden child labour within the family. The evidence from the two-step treatment effect model further suggests that hidden child labour helped their family earn a higher family income than households without hidden child labour during the reference period.

Evaluation of Child’s Right Portrayal in Select Nollywood Films

This study examines the role of Nollywood films in promoting child rights in Nigeria. Using Development Media and Social Representation Theories, the study analyzed five locally produced movies and 663 respondents. The findings revealed that Nigerian films depict various issues of child rights, including neglect, child labor, emotional abuse, child battering, sexual abuse, gender discrimination, child kidnapping, child trafficking, and moral abuse. The study concluded that Nigerian movies provide a country perspective for deepening moral and social consciousness and advancing attitudinal change in child rights. The authors recommend that filmmakers continue producing films that address child rights issues to further advance justice against children.

Child maltreatment and psycho-social impairments among child laborers in rural Bangladesh.

The current study focused on exploring the impact of maltreatment of child laborers on their psychosocial health condition from the views of their parents. A total of 100 parents of child laborers were recruited using snowball sampling. The structured questionnaire comprised two validated scales including ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool (ICAST-P), and Paediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) were used for the survey. Factor analysis and multivariable linear regression analysis were performed to examine the data using SPSS version 26, and Stata version 16.1. A three-factor model consisting of internalizing, externalizing, and attention associated psycho-social impairments of child laborers were derived from the 35-item scale of PSC tool and represented a good fit to the data. A mean estimate of maltreatment indicates that a majority of child laborers are maltreated psychologically, followed by physical maltreatment and neglect. The factor analysis resulted that maltreated child laborers are highly prone to exhibit internalized psycho-social difficulties, followed by externalized and attention-associated emotional and behavioral difficulties among child laborers. The regression model further depicts that child laborers, who had been physically and psychologically maltreated, are significantly more likely to be affected by internalized and attention-related psycho-social impairments. The study concluded that victimized child laborers exhibited significant internalized, as well as attention-related problems. These findings may be useful for future studies that examine emotional and behavioral problems among maltreated child laborers and, therefore, for developing prevention strategies.

Child labour and schooling in Tanzania

Child labour and schooling in Tanzania

From climatic to international shocks: Where does the evidence stand on income changes and child labor

AbstractChildren in developing countries are vulnerable to shocks and adversities and child labor is often seen as a direct consequence of poverty and economic downturns. While such univocal causality may appear obvious, its empirical basis has not been systematically evaluated. To understand the linkages between shocks, changes in the economic situation of families and child labor, we therefore conduct a systematic literature review on the impact of income‐related shocks on child labor. We evaluate empirical studies of weather events and natural disasters, agricultural shocks such as crop failures, family shocks like parental illness, price shocks and transnational shocks through trade, migration, and remittances. Focusing on the literature that identifies causal effects, we find that the relationship between shocks and child labor is far from univocal. While in most cases adverse shocks increase child labor, we find that favorable shocks that improve earning opportunities may also cause more child labor. Policies to tackle child labor should therefore develop safety nets that minimize the probability of children being used as buffers in adverse economic downturns, but also consider the risk that positive economic shocks may attract children into labor due to changes to the value of children's time spent working.

Social inequalities portrayed in the occupational experiences of girls ahead of incarceration in Brazil

ABSTRACT Literature demonstrates that most girls incarcerated in juvenile justice institutions in Brazil come from socially vulnerable groups that face social inequality and racial and gender discrimination, which results in occupational inequities. This study aims to understand the daily lives of young Brazilian girls ahead of their incarceration based on their occupational experiences and clarify how these occupations express the deep social inequalities that mark their life trajectories. This cross-sectional qualitative exploratory study used oral history as the research method. Twelve young girls incarcerated at a juvenile justice institution in Minas Gerais, Brazil in 2020 were the study participants. The impact of gender and class issues on these young girls’ daily experiences and occupations point toward the oppressions and social inequalities to which they were exposed since childhood. Their life stories were marked by daily violations of their rights, such as the difficulty of accessing and staying in school, exploitation as child labor, the lack of leisure opportunities, exposure to various forms of violence, including sexual violence, and general vulnerability. The concept of occupation, read through the lens of intersectionality, makes it possible to understand the social inequalities that cross the daily lives of vulnerable populations, as well as provoking a critical and activist position in the area in the face of occupational injustices.

Labor Market Reflections Of Covıd-19 Pandemic: A Global Investigation Specific To Income Groups And Vulnerable Workers

The Covid 19 pandemic, which started in Wuhan, China in November 2019 and then spread rapidly all over the world, caused the death of millions of people, stagnation in the global economy, and created a rare economic conjuncture by creating both demand and supply shocks. The pandemic has affected world economies and deeply affected the labor markets on a global scale. Production in many sectors has decreased significantly, and in some sectors it has come to a standstill. As a result, unemployment rates and employment losses have increased and employment patterns have changed. Main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of the pandemic on labour markets around the world in terms of both income groups and vulnerable labour based on the extensive literature and ILO&IMF database. According to the findings, the macroeconomic structures of the countries have differentiated their levels of being affected by the crisis, while unemployment and employment losses were felt sharply in middle and low-income countries. Moreover, impacts of the pandemic on disadvantaged groups have been harsh, women, youth, migrant and child labor have been affected in different ways by the pandemic. Due to the pandemic, women had difficulty in staying in the labor market, young people were left out of the labor market and NEET rates increased, migrant workers also experienced significant employment losses, the pandemic has also increased child labor globally.

The social and environmental problems associated with child labor

the social and environmental problems associated with child labor