Peer-reviewed article
CHILD LABOUR IN BANGLADESH: LAW AND REALITY
Tahsina Zaman ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This paper examines child labour in Bangladesh, where work by children under 14 is illegal under the 2006 Bangladesh Labour Act, yet the practice remains widespread and growing. The authors identify poverty and socio-economic conditions as primary drivers, noting that families depend on children's income and employers prefer cheaper, more compliant child workers. The paper compares the legal framework with the reality of child labour on the ground in Bangladesh.
Key points
- Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006 outlaws work by children under age 14
- Child labour rates are rising despite legal prohibitions
- Poverty and socio-economic conditions are the main drivers of child labour
- Employers exploit children because they are cheaper and more obedient than adults
- Bangladesh government and the International Labour Organization are working to prevent child labour
Limitations
This document does not provide quantitative data on child labour prevalence, specific details about which sectors employ children most, or evidence about the effectiveness of prevention efforts. It does not evaluate any particular intervention or provide original research findings.
Abstract
Child Labour refers to work that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and interfere with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school. In Bangladesh, child labour is very common. In 2006, Bangladesh enacted The Bangladesh Labour Act and outlawed work by children under the age of 14. But reality is the numbers of child labourers is rising day by day. Socio-economic condition of Bangladesh is mainly responsible for child labour. Here in Bangladesh, Children work for helping their family financially as many families live under the poverty level. Also, the child workers are cheaper and considered to be more compliant and obedient than adults, so the employers take this opportunity. Bangladesh government and International Labour Organization are working for preventing child labour in Bangladesh. An attempt is made in this paper to present the comparison between law and reality in Bangladesh regarding child labour.