Research & Study
Child Labour Situation in Keraniganj Local Readymade Garments
December, 2021
The study was commissioned by Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF). The study was commissioned to identify the numbers of child labour including their socio-economic background. It also tried to depict their working situation and its consequences on their lives. The study assessed the perception of trade union leaders, NGO representatives and policy makers of relevant government department towards child labour and gathered their experience to identify the potential solutions. The report intends to describe the methodology, legal framework, findings and concludes by recommending some key measures that would enable child to enjoy their rights and enhance institutional support to ensure child rights.
Key Words: Child Labour, Keraniganj, Informal Work, Hazardous Work
Background
Objectives
- Identify the number of child labour in downstream factories and find out the type and prevalence of child labour in RMG plants.
- Explore socio-economic indicators, e.g., age, gender, education, wage & benefits etc.; understand the attitude of relevant stakeholders (e.g. employer, trade union leader, NGOs, experts, government officials, etc.) towards child labour.
- Find out the consequences of child labour and identify challenges to eliminate child labour.
Key Findings
- The prevalence of child labour, aged up to 14 years is 13.23% and adult labour aged 15 and above is 86.77%.
- Most of the children came from coastal districts where river erosion is a common phenomenon and the consequences are losing jobs and migration.
- The Child Labours often face shouting, using abusive language, physical abuse (e.g. beating, slapping, kicking, pulling them by their hair, throwing objects/tools).
- The girl workers have to share an unhygienic toilet with male colleagues, which is more difficult for them during menstruation.
- Twenty percent (20%) of child workers were in the monthly income group between Tk. 500 to Tk. 1000. Very few (2%) child workers reported receiving above Tk. 10,000.
Recommendations
- First and foremost, Government must recognize DSRMG as an Industry under its relevant Ministry and Department of Bangladesh Government.
- Take initiative for Life skills and informal primary education for the child labours during their working period by reducing their working hours.
- Government should focus on Vocational training, including Entrepreneurship training.
- BLF must continue advocacy to implement compliance by administering and enforcing relevant legal instruments.
- Advocacywith governmentand Donors to provide a budget for pre-vocational/ vocational skills.
The Human Rights Charter and The Bangladesh Constitution, which have physical and mental development or have promised to uphold are totally missing. In addition, discrimination, exploitation, and torture have become a regular occurrence for these children, and poverty happens to be the main cause. The children’s lives remain further in misery and uncertainty due to the recklessness of the owners to maximize profit at any cost, backed by the absence of proper enforcement of relevant regulatory instruments. An intense and coordinated effort from the involved parties is the only way out of this situation.
Publication Details
Date: December, 2021
Contact
Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF)
107 Bir Uttam C.R. Datta Road
Dhaka – 1205
Bangladesh
Related research & study
Researsh & Study
Timeline: 2021
Bangladesh is facing challenges to prevent child labour. Moreover, the COVID-19 situation has significantly contributed to increasing children’s engagement as labourers in different sectors. The Bangladesh Labour Foundation, from its working experience and other studies, confirmed that many children work in the downstream RMG industries and are victims of exploitation and discrimination.Children in Bangladesh are subjected to the worst forms of child labour, performing dangerous tasks in different sectors like garment factories, industries, construction, transport, etc. Despite the significant success of the government of Bangladesh, it remains challenging to ensure fundamental human rights for children, particularly poor children. The local RMG factories are running without formal rules and regulations. In the absence of legal statutes, a large number of child labourers are exploited here. To mitigate the challenges, along with the government, the Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF) has been working to combat child labour in the Keraniganj downstream RMG industries. BLF commissioned this study to identify the number of child workers in Keraniganj and their socio-economic status.
Objectives: The objectives of the study are to find out the type and prevalence of child labour in RMG plants, explore socio-economic indicators, and understand the attitudes of relevant stakeholders.
Methodology: The study was carried out through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Different tools were used, such as structured questionnaires, checklists, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and storytelling to deeply understand the situation of child labour. The calculation included child workers aged up to 14 years. By geographical location, two unions were stratified in Keraniganj.
Findings: The majority of the child workers were involved in work due to poverty and had to support their families. The study found that most of the children came from coastal areas due to river erosion. The OSH (Occupational Safety and Health) conditions are extremely poor. Male and female child labourers use the same toilet, which is unhygienic and always has an inadequate water supply, and there is a restriction on going there anytime. The factories are usually set up in a single room, where many people work and sleep together in a confined space. Usually, the factories do not have any firefighting equipment. The child labourers mostly got their jobs through a distant relative and were employed verbally on a contract basis. Initially, they work as trainees for a two-year contract under an “Oshtad” (trainer). During this period, they get food, accommodation, and a weekly payment as pocket money. Child workers’ general working hours are more than 8 hours with no provision for overtime. Verbal and physical violence exist in this sector. Not only female but also male children face sexual violence. The study finds that children’s mental growth is severely hampered, creating an unbalanced condition for their future.
Recommendations:
- Discouraging owners from employing children in homes, shops, factories, etc., through awareness programs and advocacy.
- Special focus must be given to preventing sexual harassment/physical torture of both girl and boy child labourers.
- Through its programs and advocacy initiatives, BLF must address menstrual health hygiene management issues and involve trade unions to motivate owners to ensure separate toilet facilities for male and female workers. Besides, awareness-raising workshops, training, and BCC (Behavior Change Communication) materials can be facilitated by BLF.
