THE childhood of thousands of children are consumed by hardship, lost to the shadow of child labour. Child labour remains a critical issue across South Asia, especially in Bangladesh. Instead of books and play, countless children are burdened with work in brick kilns, factories, tea estates, hotels, buses, quarries, garages, and hazardous industries like tobacco and leather. The harsh realities of their lives are visible across all major cities.
Poverty remains the primary driver. Children from poor households often become the first casualties of economic desperation. Their families, crushed under the weight of survival, push them into labour to supplement meagre incomes.
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Legal framework and definitions
BANGLADESH has seen evolving definitions of childhood in policy and law. The 1974 Children鈥檚 Act defined a child as under 16. The 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child set the upper limit at 18. The 1994 National Child Policy defined children as under 14, later adjusted to 16 in 2003. According to the 2006 Labour Act, a child is anyone under 14, while the 2011 National Children鈥檚 Policy returned to under 18.
The International Labour Organisation and UNICEF define child labour as work that hinders a child鈥檚 physical, mental, moral, or social development. Work that disrupts education or poses physical danger qualifies as child labour.
Despite international conventions and national laws, child labour persists. Since 2002, the ILO has marked June 12 as World Day Against Child Labour, now observed in over 80 countries, including Bangladesh.
According to the ILO, an estimated 366 million children globally are engaged in labour, with one in six affected. Roughly 22,000 children die annually from abuse, trafficking, and dangerous work conditions.
In Bangladesh, the Department of Labour reports around 6.9 million child labourers. UNICEF estimates over 60 million children live in the country. While 90 per cent are enrolled in primary education, more than half drop out before completion. A World Food Programme survey revealed that 57 per cent of children work to secure food. Only 23.7 per cent receive wages, often far below legal standards.
Constitutionally, Bangladesh pledges to protect children. Article 17 mandates free education, Article 18 promotes child health, Article 28 supports child welfare, and Article 34 prohibits forced labour. Yet, enforcement remains inconsistent, and many children fall through the cracks.
Child labour often involves brutal treatment. Domestic workers get beaten for trivial mistakes. Hotel boys are slapped for dropping dishes. Many are tied up and tortured for errors in their jobs. Media reports repeatedly expose such abuse.
A survey by the ILO and UNICEF found child labour in 310 types of urban economic activities. Child domestic workers, often girls, are especially vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse. Many cases remain hidden due to fear, stigma, and lack of legal recourse.
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Plight of street children
THE situation is even more dire for street children. Around 2 to 2.5 million children in Bangladesh live on the streets, forced there by poverty and broken families. They find shelter at bus terminals, train stations, sidewalks, and parks. Their existence revolves around street-based livelihoods, and many fall into criminal activities or drug addiction.
Criminal gangs often exploit these children, trafficking them abroad or using them in illegal trades. Organ trafficking and sexual exploitation, especially of young girls, are alarmingly common.
According to Social and Economic Enhancement data 45 per cent of street children are drug addicted, 41 per cent sleep without shelter, 40 per cent lack bathing access, 45 per cent lack toilets, 55 per cent fall ill without care, 75 per cent can鈥檛 access medical treatment, 51 per cent suffer verbal abuse, 46 per cent of girls face sexual abuse.
Substance abuse is also prevalent: 19 per cent are addicted to heroin, 40 per cent smoke, 28 per cent abuse pills, and 8 per cent inject drugs.
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Addressing the root causes
TO ERADICATE child labour, the root cause 鈥� poverty 鈥� must be tackled. Without lifting families out of poverty, children will continue to be forced into work. Changing societal attitudes is equally critical. Every child deserves the same safety, education, and care we wish for our own.
Efforts must be decentralised. Local governments should identify area-specific challenges and implement community-based rehabilitation programs. Child allowances and social assistance for low-income families can significantly reduce dependency on child labour.
Strict enforcement of existing laws is essential. Employers exploiting children must be held accountable. Public awareness campaigns, led by media and civil society, can shine a light on child exploitation and pressure authorities to act.
Education is the most powerful weapon against child labour. All working children must be guaranteed access to education. Social safety nets must include child protection mechanisms. Formal and informal educational opportunities, vocational training, and transitional schools should be expanded nationwide.
Normalising children鈥檚 labour in homes or informal sectors must be rejected. Society must understand that child labour is not a cultural norm but a violation of basic rights.
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Government initiatives and hope
DESPITE these challenges, there are signs of progress. The ministry of labour and employment, under the fourth phase of the Hazardous Child Labour Elimination Project, is working to withdraw 100,000 children from hazardous work. These children will receive: Six months of non-formal education, four months of vocational training and a Tk 1,000 monthly stipend via mobile banking.
This initiative reflects the government鈥檚 commitment to eliminating child labour by 2030, in line with the sustainable development goals, and building a prosperous, child-labour-free Bangladesh by 2041.
However, these efforts must be scaled and sustained. Policy execution, monitoring, and accountability are crucial for real impact.
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Path forward
ENDING child labour requires more than policy 鈥� it demands political will, public engagement, and moral conviction. All stakeholders 鈥� government, civil society, businesses, media, and citizens 鈥� must work together to protect children.
Children are not tools for economic survival; they are the foundation of the nation鈥檚 future. They must be raised with care, education, and opportunity. A society that fails to protect its children cannot claim to progress.
Let us return childhood to every child 鈥� filled with books, dreams, laughter, and the promise of a better tomorrow. Together, we must raise our voices to end child labour, not just in words, but through decisive action.
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Emran Emon is a journalist, columnist and global affairs analyst.
