Peer-reviewed article
Invisible girls, visible harms: health, well-being, and safety among child domestic workers in Myanmar
Aye Thiri Kyaw, Benjamin Hanckel, Ngu Kay Thwe, Cathy Zimmerman, Meghna Ranganathan ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study interviewed 33 former child domestic workers in Myanmar to understand their working conditions, treatment, and well-being. Most entered domestic work due to family economic hardship and endured long hours, hazardous conditions, abuse, and isolation from family. Despite these harms, many chose to stay in their jobs to support their families. The research highlights the urgent need for policies and family engagement to protect child domestic workers.
Key points
- 33 former child domestic workers were interviewed about their experiences in Myanmar
- Most entered domestic work due to economic necessity and family financial hardship
- Workers endured long hours, hazardous conditions, abuse, and unfair compensation
- They experienced restricted communication with family and friends, causing extended isolation
- Many prioritized supporting their families over their own safety and well-being despite adversities
Limitations
The study is based on retrospective interviews with former workers, which may not capture the current experiences of active child domestic workers. The sample size of 33 is relatively small and limited to Myanmar, so findings may not be generalizable to other contexts.
Abstract
Globally, an estimated 17.2 million children work as child domestic workers (CDWs), with nearly 3.7 million exposed to hazardous working conditions. Despite their prevalence, CDWs remain a hidden and hard-to-reach population. This study examines the hidden voices of CDWs in Myanmar, exploring their working conditions, experiences of abuse and isolation and the impact of being away from families on their well-being. In 2023, we conducted in-depth interviews with 33 former CDWs in Myanmar. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated from Burmese to English, and analysed using thematic analysis. Our study reveals most CDWs entered domestic work out of economic necessity, feeling obligated to help ease their families’ financial hardships. They endured long hours in hazardous conditions, often facing abuse and unfair compensation. They were also restricted from communicating with family and friends, leaving them isolated for extended periods. Despite these adversities, most participants chose to remain in their jobs, prioritizing their families over their own hardships. Even in the face of abuse, the findings illuminate the deep sense of duty and connection young CDWs feel toward their biological families. This study underscores the urgent need for policies and parental engagement to protect CDWs safety and healthy child development.