Policy document
Legal Protection for Child Labour in Myanmar
Win Thein Aung ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This document examines child labour in Myanmar, defining it as work undertaken by children under the legal minimum age that harms their health and development. The report identifies poverty, natural disasters, civil conflict, and traditional social systems as causes of child labour. Myanmar has over 400,000 children aged 5-17 working in dangerous environments. The document argues that Myanmar's labour laws need strengthening with international support to better protect child workers' rights and welfare.
Key points
- More than 0.4 million children aged 5-17 in Myanmar work in dangerous environments
- The total child population aged 5-17 in Myanmar is over 12.4 million
- Four worst forms of child labour are recognized internationally: slavery, sexual exploitation, illicit activities, and hazardous work
- Child labour results from poverty, natural disasters, civil conflicts, and traditional social systems
- Myanmar's labour legislation requires improvement and strengthening with ILO assistance to protect child workers
Limitations
The document is a policy discussion rather than empirical research and does not provide detailed data on the effectiveness of existing protections or specific recommendations for legal reform. It does not evaluate any specific intervention or present evidence on outcomes of child labour protection measures.
Abstract
'Child Labour' is any work undertaken by a child under the legal minimum working age that may be harmful to his or her health and social development. Child labour is a main product of poverty and the other causes of child labour are included in natural calamities, man-made disasters (civil strife) and traditional social system, in allowing children to work. Children are generally docile, obedient, hired at cheaper rates than adults, and silent as far as their rights as workers are concerned. Besides, Children are labour intensive and require laborious work for long hours or during the rights. This fact is a significant element for preferred in labour market. There are four types of Child labour that the international community has declared to be 'worst forms'; slavery; sexual exploitation; illicit activities, and hazardous work. The exploitation on child labour is prohibited by international conventions and national legislation. In Myanmar, labour legislation was originated for child labour protection during the industrialization process. The total number of child population in Myanmar between the age of (5-17) is over 12-4 million, of which more than 0.4 million are working in dangerous-environments, according to Myanmar labour force survey, published by the Ministry of labour, Immigration and Population (MOLIP), 2018. The protection of Child labour plays an important role in the state. Therefore, according to the current situation of Myanmar, laws and the legal system need to be improved with the assistance from ILO and strength ended to protect the rights and welfare of child workers.