An analysis of the determinant of child

labour in Nepal

Submitted To: Submitted By:

Asia Youth International Anish Kumar Yadav, Nepal
Model United Nation [email protected]
 ABSTRACT
This paper analyzes and summarizes the current understanding of child labour in Nepal, its
determinants, and existing and proposed solution submitted to Asia youth International model united
nation(AYIMUN). It proposes, as a step towards implementing these recommendations, a series of low
cost and shorter-term action recommendations. It is the wish of the Asia youth International model
united nation(AYIMUN) to create an environment of dialogue with the Youth on these possible actions
to find the common agenda to eliminate child labour in Nepal.

List of Acronmys

ILO: International Labour Organization

IPEC: International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour

NGOs:Non Governmental Organization
UNDP: United Nation Developemt Programme
STDs: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
JJYC: Jan Jagran Youth Club
NR: Nepali Rupees
USD: United State Dollar
MPs: Member of Parliament

The Space after two horizontal parallel lines are left intentionally
 Contents
1. Background..........................................................................................
2. Objective………………………………………………………………………………………………….
3. Executive summary………………………………………………………………………
3.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………….

4.0 Magnitude of child Labour…………………………………………………………..

5.0 Wider Societal Issue As Determinant of child Labour……………………

6.0 Location and Field of implementation…………………………………………

7.0 Causative Agent Of Child Labour………………………………………………….

8.0 Proposed Solution………………………………………………………………………

9.0 Projected Implementation Timeline……………………………………………

10.0 Budget Required for Achieving the Goal…………………………….

11.0 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………

 1.Background
The incidence of child labour in Nepal is relatively high compared with other countries
in South Asia.[1] According to the Nepal Labour Force Survey (NLFS) in 2008, [2]86.2% of
children who were working were also studying and 13.8% of the children were working
only. Of the total 7.7 million children falls between 5 and 17 years of age in Nepal,an
estimated 3.14 million (40.4%)children are working in hotels, chimeneys, black market,
shops, assitant driver,the great majority in rural areas of Nepal. The number of children
engaged in hazardous work is 621000. 4.5% primary school aged children are out of
school. In Kathmandu valley, 11,000-13,000 girls below the age of 18 years are found to
be engaged in flesh trade, night entertainment and other sexual activities.

There are 77 districts in Nepal. Among them,Bara district is one of the badly effected by
CHILD LABOUR. According to census of 2011, the total population of bara is 687,708.
Approximately, there are more than 3,50000 children of less than 18 years of age group. Surveys
report of Jan Jagaran Youth club (JJYC), Bara shows that Out of 100 children 77 children are
the victims of child labour. As Bara The literacy rate is low and there is gender based
discrimination. The number of school dropout children is worse. Only 25% children are
found to be going in school.

2.0 Objective
As we all know that CHILD LABOUR a global problem which needs to be resolved
very soon. Many NGOs, INGOs, foundation, government are trying to eliminate child
labour but the problem is deep rooted. The objective of implementing the child
labour can be discussed below:

1. To aware the parents about the child rights and also about the
problems invited by child labour in Nepal.
2. To decrease the number of victims of child labour and enroll
them in schools.
3. To create pressure in the concerned authorities to take
necessary action against child right.
4. To build a child friendly environment where children can enjoy
their fundamentals rights.
 3.0 Executive Summary
3.1 Introduction:
1. Child labour is a reality for one in every three Nepalese children, with each child labourer a
tangible living symbol of a vulnerable and marginalized family: a reminder of an inadequate
education system, a government’s inability to act, and above all, a society’s acceptance of a
social wrong. Child labour destroys children’s potential, robbing them of opportunities and
perpetuating a cycle of poverty and marginalization. It degrades not only its victims but also
those that sanctions or ignores its existence. There are 77 districts in Nepal. Among
them,Bara district is one of the badly effected by CHILD LABOUR. According to census of
2011, the total population of bara is 687,708. Approximately, there are more than 3,50000
children of less than 18 years of age group. Surveys report of Jan Jagaran Youth club (JJYC),
Bara shows that Out of 100 children 77 children are the victims of child labour. As Bara The
literacy rate is low and there is gender based discrimination. The number of school dropout
children is worse. Only 25% children are found to be going in school. As Bara lies in the
southern part of Nepal and has land locked boarder with India, Most of the children are
engaged in black market by buying goods from india and selling back in Nepal . Either the
parents or the shopkeeper asked children to go in black market. Besides this many children
are working as labour in brick chimney industry, shops,hotels, vehicles, servent in home.
Regardless of these, they are deprived of nutrition, health. The above data shows the
condtion of children in Bara district

4.0 Magnitude of Child Labour

In 1997, the ILO/IPEC-supported National Child Labour Survey estimated that thenumber of
children between five and fourteen years was 6,225,000, or 29.3% of the totalpopulation. 3 It was
also able to categorize child labourers as “Working Children”,“Economically Active Children”,
“Wage Child Labour”, and children in the “WorstForms of Child Labour”.
Economic Participation
95% of all Nepali Working Children work in rural areas, engaged in agricultural work. The
work participation rate for these rural children (43.4%) is double that of urban children
(23.0%), with older and urban children predominating in non-agricultural work.
Economically Active Children, ten to fourteen years, dominate those, five to nine years, by a
ratio of 3:1. This suggests that Working Children, five to nine years, are mainly contributing
to their rural household economies. Child labourers typically contribute between 20-25% of
household income, though there is no evidence that this is sufficient to raise a family out of
poverty.5
Six out of every one hundred Working Children are full-time Waged Child Labour, working
for an employer outside of their family. Waged Child Labour and its sub-set, the Worst
Forms of Child Labour are especially vulnerable to exploitation, and intolerable and
inhumane conditions. The approximately 127,000 children in this form of labour include
trafficked children, bonded labourers, porters, mine and carpet factory workers, domestic
workers, and rag pickers.
Positively, data indicates that the economic participation rates of children have dropped
substantially over time due mainly to school enrollment (e.g. from 50.5% in 1971 to 28.8% in
2001 for children ten to fourteen years). The larger rate drop for boys (59.2% to 27.3%),
compared to girls (40.1% to 30.4%), can be explained by a male bias in school enrollment.

Central Bureau of Statistics (HMG/N), Nepal Labour Force Survey, 1998-99.

Socio-Economic and Family Backgrounds

While the data does not permit a statistical argument that child labourers come from poorer
families, empirical evidence does suggest this relationship. Surveys of child labourers
indicate that household economic difficulties were a major push factor for joining the labour
market. Studies of children in the Worst Forms of Child Labour also indicate that these
households are more likely to be landless or have landholdings that are less than the national
average.
36.5% of all Working Children came from families of five to six people, while 29.5% came
from families of seven to eight. The average family size of the approximate 1,000,000
Working Children not in school is 5.6. This is larger than the Nepal average of 5.1. While it is
not clear that family size is a cause of child labour, it is certainly can be correlated with child
labour.

Working Conditions

84% of Economically Active Children work an average of fourteen hours per week, with
older children and girls working more hours. 30% of children aged ten to fourteen years work
42 hours or more a week. 43% of Economically Active girls work more than 28 hours a
week.
21 UCW WORKING PAPER SERIES, JANUARY 2003
 Education
The national child labour and Nepal labour force surveys indicated that children who do not
attend school have a 50% higher work participation rate. In rural areas only 36% of working
children are literate, while this rises to 54% in urban areas. Studies also indicate that labour
participation rates decrease with the level of education of the household head. s

Health

While no studies exist on the health effects of labour on Nepali children, a 1984 World
Health Organization (WHO) study of Nigeria, India, Malaysia and Korea on the effects of
work on the growth and development of children indicated several outcomes. These included
increased muscular and skeletal disorders, higher incidence of respiratory and gastro-
intestinal diseases, poorer nutritional status, lower hemoglobin levels, more frequent
headaches, fatigue, and vision problems, and lower average height and weight than children
in a control group (Malaysia).6
Geographic Distribution and Migration

Approximately 8% of children between five and fourteen years are migrant workers, while
four out of five children in the worst forms of child labour are migrants. This is an indication
of both the mobility of Nepali child labour and the relationship between mobility and
exploitation.
There is also a correlation between the incidence of child labour and district-level poverty,
with the highest prevalence of child labour in the poorest districts. 7 These districts have not
only the highest rates of child labour, but are also suppliers of child labourers to more
prosperous areas.

Gender

The work participation rate of girls (47.6%) is higher than boys (36.1%). This is due to higher
participation in non-economic activities, though this varies greatly between regions. Gender
analyses have also indicated that girls are more likely to not complete their primary education
and to become involved in work in larger numbers and at a younger age. Among
Economically Active Children, boys outnumbered girls, indicating both a tendency for girls
to work in the home and a bias against reporting and recording household work as an
economic activity.

Worst Forms of Child Labour

It is estimated that in Nepal, 127,000 children are trapped in what are referred to as the
“worst forms of child labour”, or forms of child labour whose conditions are intolerable and
inhumane. The definition of what constitutes a worst form of child labour is contained in the
ILO’s Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182, Article 3).
- AN ANALYISIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF CHILD LABOUR IN NEPAL, THE POLICY ENVIRONMENT AND RESPONSE.
 The seven worst forms of child labour, identified in the Time-Bound Programme for
the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, were selected during the 2001
National Stakeholders Consultation. These forms include trafficked children, bonded
labourers, porters, mine and carpet factory workers, domestic workers, and rag
pickers.8 Much of the existing data on these labour forms comes from five ILO-
supported rapid assessments. The findings include:

 Four out of five children in the worst forms of child labour have migrated from
elsewhere to the work site; most work in urban areas. The security situation is
increasingly pushing children into urban areas where they are at risk of the worst
forms of child labour.
 Parents play a major role in children’s entry into the labour force with 61% of child
labourers reported that parents or relatives brought them to the work site.

 Surprisingly, literacy rates among children in the worst forms of child labour are
similar to the national rate. In addition, 63% of children in the worst forms of child
labour have had some education before joining the work force, though only 18% of
them are able to attend school. The enrollment rate for child domestic workers in
Kathmandu is higher at 43% but still lower than the national average of 72%.

 Approximately 12,000 children, mostly girls are trafficked each year from Nepal. 9 It
is assumed that most become commercial sex workers. 20% of female commercial
sex workers in Nepal are between the ages of 12 and 15 years. Girls who were forced
into prostitution in brothels reported an average stay of two years, an average of
fourteen clients a day, and 60% reported that their clients used condoms
“sometimes”, “rarely”, or “not at all”. The risk of contracting a sexually-transmitted
disease (STD) is very high.

 62% of children in the worst forms of child labour entered this labour force between
ten and fourteen years, which is consistent with the wider child labour force. 29% of
girls in the worst forms of child labour are between five and nine years, compared to
16% of boys in the same age group. However, 71% of children in the seven worst
forms of child labour are boys, though findings suggest higher levels of harassment
for girls. Some sources believe that the sexual abuse of female child domestic
workers by the male members of the employing family is a large hidden issue.

 84% of children interviewed in the rapid assessments reported working twelve to

fourteen hours a day. Girls work longer hours.

 Wages in the worst forms of child labour for the most part range from minimal to
non-existent.10 In many cases, salaries are paid directly to the parents. 69% of
children employed in industrial establishments reported wages of less than NR1000
per month.
  Of the 39% of domestic child labourers who were receiving a salary, 59% of all child
domestics and 79% of girl domestics had their salaries collected by their parents.
27% of child domestic workers and 3% of bonded child labourers reported work
place accidents, mostly cuts and burns. 62% of rag pickers and 46% of porters
reported illness as a result of the harshness and unhealthy conditions of their work.

5.0 Wider Societal Issues As Determinants of Child Labour

 Throughout the previous descriptions of child labour, references were made to wider
societal determinants of child labour. Indeed, it is suggested that child labour is only
one of many social ills rooted in the interplay of these determinants. This is best
summarized by the Nepal Development Forum which writes that “Low incomes, lack
of employment opportunities especially in rural areas, a delayed start to
development, poor public services, and inefficient use of public resources have all
contributed to this low and unequal human development.”11

 Nepal is a country of 23,000,000 with a GNP of US$235 per capita. The National
Labour Standard Survey indicates that as of 1995-96, 42% of the population lived in
poverty12. Nepal is classified as one of the world’s least developed and poorest
countries, ranking 129 on the UNDP’s Human Development Index. 40% of all
children belong to extremely poor families.
 The life expectancy is 59.7 years and 41% of the populatio n

6.0 Location and field of implementation

There are 77 districts in Nepal. Among them,Bara district is one of the badly effected by
CHILD LABOUR. According to census of 2011, the total population of bara is 687,708.
Approximately, there are more than 3,50000 children of less than 18 years of age group. Surveys
report of Jan Jagaran Youth club (JJYC), Bara shows that Out of 100 children 77 children are
the victims of child labour. As Bara The literacy rate is low and there is gender based
discrimination. The number of school dropout children is worse. Only 25% children are
found to be going in school. As Bara lies in the southern part of Nepal and has land locked
boarder with India, Most of the children are engaged in black market by buying goods from
india and selling back in Nepal . Either the parents or the shopkeeper asked children to go in
black market. Besides this many children are working as labour in brick chimney industry,
shops,hotels, vehicles, servent in home. Regardless of these, they are deprived of nutrition,
health. The above data shows the condtion of children in Bara district.

7.0 Causative Agent of Child Labour

 The causative agent of child labour is poverty, lack of education, employment and lack of
strict implementation of law regarding child rights. The factor which results child labour
are briefly described below:
1. Due to gender discrimination.
2. Parents force their children to work because of economic crisis
3. Lack of employment of the people is one of the major factor.
4. Lack of education and awareness in the people.
5. Concerned authorities are not paying attention.
6. Child rights violator are not being punished according to existing law.

Possible solution of Avoiding child Labour

1) Education – Government should provide free education with all the lodging and the fooding
facility under the age of 18 .That helps children learn skills that will help them earn a
living .Children need to learn how to read and write. They need social and professional skills
that only school and a nurturing environment can provide.Some countries have compulsory
schooling and some provide free public schooling. However, in many countries, particularly for
those where structural adjustment lending has led to the privatization of schools-the cost of
teaching, books,and uniforms makes it impossible for children to get free education.

2) Family Control or Fertility – There should be proper child spacing. Family planning shuld be
done to avoid such problem. So, that families are not burdened by children. 

3) Eliminate poverty - Boycotting is not the solution because it forces children, who otherwise
have no specific training,to quit their jobs and return to the streets or to more dangerous
activities. 

 4) Ethical consumerism: By spending their money wisely or inadvisedly, consumers can help to
halt or can (often inadvertently) support child labor. By investigating the companies that you buy
from and refusing to hand over your cash to companies that deploy child labor, you can stop funding
sweatshops and other unethical businesses that are taking away the childhoods of young people
across the globe. Do not be seduced by the often cheaper prices that sweatshop made goods can
be associated with: these cheap prices come as a result of employing children, making adults work
excessively long hours, and sometimes even employing slave labor. Child labor can also be involved
in designer goods, too: many of the metals found in expensive cellphones, for example, have been
mined by children.

5) Enforce labour laws - Most countries have laws against child labour; however, some
governments support child labour (regardless of existing laws) as a way of gaining a competitive
market advantage.Preventing children from working is not necessarily the best solution; children
may end up in worse situations and their families may become even poorer. 

6) Abolish child trafficking - Everywhere in the world, there are adults who earn a living by
buying and selling children. The governments of all countries must take harsh measures against
child trafficking. 

7) Promote fair trade Fair trade practices guarantee a fair price to small-scale producers. In 44
developing countries, fair trade helps keep 550 co-operatives in business. These co-operatives
consequently provide goods to 5 million people and often reinvest profits in the community,
where the money is used to build schools, medical clinics, wells, etc.

8) Replace child workers by adult workers - There are 800 million unemployed adults in the
world; and yet, the number of working children is estimated to be at over 300 million.

9)Donate to charities: Donate your money to charities that help children to escape the trap of child
labor. Donate, too, to charities that work to end poverty and lack of education more generally
because these are two factors that contribute especially heavily to conditions in which child labor can
flourish. Sometimes, we are too busy or simply not in the right place to dedicate ourselves to the
fight against child labor. Fortunately, there are dedicated charity workers out there who do spend
almost every day tackling this issue and our money can help them to keep up their good work.

10) Concerned Authorities must pay proper attention on it. Besides this, they should be flexible
for finding the solution .

8.0 Proposed Solution/Activities

There are 6 municipalities and 6 rural municipalities in Bara district. All together there are 12
municipalities. And each municipalities and 10 wards. So, there are 120 wards altogether. We
have planned to go through the genuine ideas and activities which would be fruitful in reducing
the child labour in my district. The activities which are going to implemented and conducted are
as follow.

 To organize two street play act rearding child labour in each ward to aware the people
of our society. This idea may help the person who is conceptless about child labour.
This will directly aware the society and parents about the cause and consequences of
the child labour .
 By sending the volunteers door to door and house to house for awaring the parents.
 By organizing the two meeting in each ward. There would be the parcticipation of
women, Youth and other intellectual of the society . The ageda of child rights would be
discussed there.
 At the last hour of project a district level meeting would be organized where the
CDO,SP, MPs, mayor, deputy mayor, teachers, officials of the Bara commere and trade
and the tax office . All the factory, shops liscense are provided by commerece trade and
the tax office of Bara. So we will ask them to ban such factory which are admiiting the
child for labour.
 After all the activities are completed, we need 7 adys to prepare and submit the report
of the proposal.
 9.0 Projected Implementation Timeline
The above Proposed solution can be achieved in (30-35)days. There will be two street drama
per ward . The street drama will e completed in 10 days . And two direct interaction with the
parents of the society per ward which will last for 10 days. Similarly, there will be a district level
meeting including the concerned authorities to make it effective. After successful completion of
the activities it may take 7 days for making reports of those activities and for submission.

10.0 Budget Required for Achieving the Goal

The estimated budget is given in US Dollar. The amount of budget has been allocated under
the following headings and the sub- headings.

Budget head Unit/ No of days/ USD per unit Total in USD Remarks
Actor 5Actor X 8 days 40 200
Transportation 2 vechile X 7days 85 1190
Communication 10 1 10
Launch 200 1 200
Stationery 80 1 80
Metting 1 250 250
office rent 1 30 30
Multimedia 5 10 50
Grand Total 2010

11.0 Conclusion
The report, Child Labour in Nepal: Understanding and Confronting its Determinants, has
attempted to analyze a range of child labour determinants and responses in Nepal. For
the most part, the determinants facing His Majesty’s Government of Nepal are vast and
societal, dealing with issues of poverty, education, social protection, labour market
structure, and societal acceptance. Likewise, the recommended responses from donors
and Nepali civil society have also been large, as well as long-term and costly. 123. Any
review of child labour in Nepal brings one back to the reality that it perseveres not only
because of the conditions which encourage its existence but also because of wide
societal acceptance. It is also clear that incremental improvements in the policy and
regulatory framework and increased resources for enforcement agencies will be of
limited value in the absence of a commitment to enforce the existing framework or
utilize current resources. The empirical evidence would also indicate that despite many
official expressions of concern, policy statements, and plans, there has been little action
by government bodies against specific incidences of child labour.

This proposal has been attempted to identify low cost and short-term actions that could
be taken by AYIMUN towards the elimination of child labour. The task now for the
government, working with civil society and donors, is to show commitment to the
elimination of child labour through the implementation of the existing framework and the
use of current resources, as suggested by the suggested action recommendations, or
others that AYIMUN may identify as more appropriate. The challenge is to act.

I Anish Kumar Yadav hereby states that above data are correct. If above data are
found to be wrong and misleading I myself will be responsible for this.