Peer-reviewed article
Women and Girl Child Labour in the Bangle Industry of Hyderabad, India
Rekha Pande ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines child labour in Hyderabad's bangle-making industry, focusing on girls and women working in home-based informal production. The research involved 100 women and 150 girls engaged in bangle manufacturing. Women earn low wages in the informal sector, often involving their daughters to help supplement family income and manage household tasks. The piece-rate payment system and home-based nature of the work encourage entire families, including children, to participate in production.
Key points
- The sample included 100 women respondents and 150 girls working in the bangle industry
- Women in the informal sector receive minimum pay and lack job security compared to men
- Girl children participate in bangle production to help mothers supplement family income and manage household responsibilities
- The piece-rate payment method and home-based work arrangement incentivize family member participation in labour
- The unregulated, home-based informal sector leaves bangle-makers in precarious positions both at work and at home
Limitations
The document does not provide detailed findings on specific harms experienced by child workers, health impacts, educational outcomes, or comparative data on working versus non-working children. No information is given about the study methodology, data collection period, or statistical analysis conducted.
Abstract
The present paper attempts to see the women and child worker in the old city of Hyderabad in the Bangle industry. Women make up a sizable portion of India’s labour force, yet they are paid less and have less secure jobs than men. As a result, many of these mothers choose to earn an income for their families by working from home. Women who work in the informal sector work with minimum pay and hence the girl child is an easy prey to assist the mother in supplementing the income and helping in the household chores so that more time is left to pursue the trade for an income. Our sample includes 100 women respondents and 150 girls. Being in the unregulated, home-based informal sector has made it challenging to organize the employees, leaving the bulk of bangle-makers in precarious positions both at work and at home. The increasing number of children, especially girls, who are taking part in the production of bangles is also a cause for alarm. It would appear that the piece rate method of payment and the fact that the work may be done from home encourage the participation of family members, including children, in the labour force.