Despite advancements in certain regions, child labor continues to be a harsh reality for millions of children worldwide. A recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Unicef revealed that approximately 138 million children are currently involved in child labor globally, with 54 million of them engaged in hazardous work.
In Bangladesh, recent data from the 2025 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), jointly conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and Unicef, indicates that 9.2 percent of children between the ages of five and 17 are currently part of the child labor force, marking an increase from 6.8 percent in 2019.
Child labor in Bangladesh is prevalent in both formal and informal sectors, leading to detrimental consequences such as hindering children’s education, impeding their physical and mental growth, and restricting their future prospects. Moreover, children involved in labor are more susceptible to exploitation, abuse, and violence.
While the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006 (amended in 2018) stipulates that the minimum age for employment is 14, allowing children aged 12-14 to engage in “light work” under conditions that do not obstruct their education or development, the lack of clear definitions for “light work” poses challenges, potentially leading to misuse and inappropriate work conditions for children.
Despite the identification of 43 categories of hazardous labor forbidden for individuals under 18, around 10.7 lakh children are still engaged in hazardous labor out of a total of 17.8 lakh children in child labor. Notably, domestic work is not classified as hazardous labor for children, raising concerns from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding children’s employment in sectors like welding, road transport, machinery workshops, tobacco production, and battery recharging and recycling.
Factors such as poverty, limited access to quality education, and societal acceptance of child labor continue to perpetuate the cycle of sending children to work. Addressing this issue requires more than legislation; effective enforcement of existing laws, raising social awareness, and providing family-centered support are crucial in combating child labor.
One of the overlooked forms of child labor in Bangladesh is domestic work, where children undertake various household chores without fixed working hours or guaranteed rest, often experiencing abuse and exploitation. Efforts to protect domestic workers through policies like the Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy, 2015 have been hampered by weak implementation, leaving many unaware of their rights.
To safeguard children’s rights and achieve Sustainable Development Goals, Bangladesh must take decisive actions to combat child labor. These actions include raising the minimum employment age to 16, restricting work opportunities for adolescents aged 16-18 to safe occupations, clarifying the definition of “light work,” and updating the list of hazardous occupations to include domestic work by children.
Strict penalties for labor law violations involving children, reinforced labor inspection systems, and active child labor elimination committees at national and local levels are essential steps toward eradicating child labor. Furthermore, expanding social protection programs, enhancing access to quality education, and promoting vocational training opportunities for children from low-income families are crucial in breaking the cycle of child labor.
Government agencies, civil society organizations, educators, community leaders, media, and influential individuals all play pivotal roles in challenging societal acceptance of child labor and advocating for every child’s right to education, health, and development.
As we reflect on historical injustices like slavery, modern-day practices like child labor demand urgent attention and condemnation. Until all forms of hazardous child labor, including domestic child labor, are eliminated, our commitment to justice and development will remain incomplete. It is imperative to prioritize the eradication of child labor as a national agenda.
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