When child labour in Bangladesh is discussed, the images that usually come to mind are children working in brick kilns, factories, workshops, tea stalls, or roadside shops. Yet beyond these visible sectors lies another vast world where thousands of children work every day. Their labour remains largely invisible in official statistics, law enforcement, and public discourse. These children work as domestic workers, street vendors, assistants in hotels and restaurants, waste collectors, agricultural labourers, workers in small family-based production units, and in various other informal sectors. As a result, the most hidden and severe forms of child labour are concentrated within the informal economy.
One of the most invisible and exploitative forms of child labour is domestic work. Long working hours, inadequate rest, poor nutrition, meagre wages, the loss of education and a normal childhood, and constant exposure to physical, psychological, and even sexual abuse are part of their daily lives. Yet, because of fear, economic dependence, social stigma, and the lack of safe and accessible complaint mechanisms, most cases of abuse remain unreported. Similarly, children working in different sectors of the informal economy are exposed to a wide range of risks. Some collect scrap metal or plastic, some work with hazardous chemicals, some carry heavy loads, while others sell goods on the streets. These occupations expose them to a high risk of accidents, physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, and psychological trauma. Yet these children have no access to health insurance, compensation for workplace injuries, or adequate occupational safety measures.
Although poverty is widely recognised as the primary driver of child labour, the reality is far more complex. Low household income, parental unemployment, the cost of education, family breakdown, natural disasters, rural-to-urban migration, social inequality, and a lack of awareness all contribute to pushing children into the labour market. Many families believe they cannot survive without their children’s earnings. At the same time, many employers prefer hiring children because they can be paid lower wages, are easier to control, and can be made to work for longer hours.
In many developed countries, children are encouraged to participate in limited household chores within their own families as a way of fostering responsibility and independence. However, employing children as domestic workers in other people’s homes, or engaging them in work that involves long hours or interferes with their education, is effectively prevented through strict legislation, strong social awareness, and robust enforcement mechanisms.
Children who grow up burdened with demanding domestic work, long working hours, and a constant atmosphere of fear are deprived of healthy physical and psychological development. As a result, they may suffer from low self-esteem, insecurity, social withdrawal, or aggressive behaviour. Moreover, being deprived of education denies them the opportunity to develop into skilled human resources in the future. This ultimately reduces national productivity, perpetuates the intergenerational cycle of poverty, widens social inequality, and makes achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) more challenging.
To eliminate child labour, Bangladesh has adopted the Labour Act, 2006 (amended in 2018), the National Child Labour Elimination Policy, 2010, and several other child protection laws and policies. In addition, Bangladesh has committed itself to safeguarding children’s rights and protection through various international conventions and commitments. Despite the existence of these laws and policies, significant gaps remain in their implementation, particularly in the informal sector, domestic work, and other hidden workplaces, where government monitoring and law enforcement remain comparatively weak.
Eliminating child labour requires more than legislation; it demands effective implementation. A comprehensive national database on children engaged in the informal economy should be developed. Without reliable information on how many children are working, where they are employed, the risks they face, and the socioeconomic conditions of their families, it is impossible to design and implement effective policies and interventions. Social protection programmes for low-income families must be further expanded. If families have adequate financial support, food security, access to healthcare, and educational assistance, they will be far less likely to send their children to work. Conditional cash transfers, school attendance-based stipends, and targeted support for vulnerable households can play a significant role in preventing child labour.
Schools must become more attractive and inclusive. Many children drop out not only because of poverty but also due to a lack of interest in school, poor quality of education, or various social challenges. Therefore, improving the quality of education, introducing skills-based curricula, providing free educational materials, and strengthening school-based counselling services are essential to keeping children in school.
Alongside the effective implementation of a dedicated policy for the protection of child domestic workers, accessible and child-friendly complaint mechanisms should be ensured through child protection apps, the Child Helpline (1098), and the National Emergency Service (999). These helpline numbers should be widely publicised so that children and the general public can easily access support. In addition, complaints must be investigated promptly, and victims should be provided with protection, legal assistance, and rehabilitation.
Changing societal attitudes is essential. Many people believe that employing a poor child is a way of helping them. In reality, subjecting children to long working hours deprives them of their rights to education, health, and normal physical and psychological development. Therefore, the media, religious institutions, educational institutions, and civil society must play a more active role in raising public awareness and changing social perceptions.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international development partners, and the corporate sector also have important roles to play. Alternative education opportunities, vocational training, family-based income-generating programmes, and rehabilitation services for vulnerable children should be expanded. At the same time, businesses must ensure that their supply chains are free from child labour through responsible sourcing and effective due diligence. The role of local government institutions in preventing child labour must be strengthened. Union Parishads, municipalities, and city corporations should intensify child labour monitoring, identify vulnerable families, and strengthen community-based rehabilitation programs. Child protection mechanisms should also be reinforced at every ward and union level.
Therefore, making invisible child labour visible is now an urgent national imperative. Without ensuring the protection and rights of children engaged in domestic work and the informal sector, the vision of a child labour-free Bangladesh will remain nothing more than words on paper. Instead of placing the burden of labour on children’s shoulders, our collective social and moral commitment should be to equip them with knowledge, hope, and opportunities. Only by fulfilling this commitment can we build a Bangladesh where no child is forced to remain an invisible worker, but instead grows into an educated, skilled, empowered, and dignified citizen.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author
The writer is a Labour Relations Specialist, Columnist and Researcher
