Urban Child Labor in Bangladesh: Determinants and Its Possible Impacts on Health and Education

Md Abdul Ahad, Mitu Chowdhury, Yvonne K. Parry and Eileen Willis
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Md Abdul Ahad: Department of Rural Sociology & Development, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Mitu Chowdhury: Department of Rural Sociology & Development, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh
Yvonne K. Parry: College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia
Eileen Willis: College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia

Social Sciences, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: A significant proportion of child laborers are compelled to work in exploitative environments, and experience both deteriorating health and financial loss. The present study sought to determine the factors affecting child labor and the characteristics of their working environment. (2) Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 80 child laborers aged 5 to 17 years. Alongside descriptive statistics, a newly devised technique known as the Influencing Causes Index (ICI) was administered and tested. (3) Results: The demographic findings reveal that most child laborers are young children (12–14 years) and 32.5% of child laborers have never attended school. The thorough assessment of determinants reflects that not only poverty but schooling expenses and a lack of access to opportunities in primary schools are also the top-ranked push factors to trigger children towards labor. Around 72.5% of children work for over 8 h a day. A significant proportion of participants received no leave, training, or access to hygiene facilities. The existing pattern of employment and working conditions resulted in musculoskeletal pain and dermatological infections among child laborers ( p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: This research suggests that income measures for households and an education program for both children and parents would expedite the abolition of child labor.

Keywords: child labor; working conditions; poverty; schooling; Bangladesh (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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