Nearly 69 percent of families whose children are engaged in labor in Bangladesh live below the poverty line, according to a new study, underscoring how poverty and structural inequality continue to push children into work. The study finds that Bangladesh’s child labor rate remains higher than the global average, with 9.2 percent of children aged 5–17 involved in labor compared to 7.8 percent worldwide.
The working conditions faced by these children are severe. Data shows that 47.68 percent of child laborers work seven days a week, while 46.36 percent work six days a week, leaving little opportunity for rest, education, or care. The study also highlights that 28.48 percent of child laborers are engaged in industrial and production-related work, including the garment sector, reflecting the heavy reliance of urban informal economies on child labor.
These findings were presented on Wednesday in Dhaka by Aminur Rahman, head of the research team, at the release of the study titled Child Labor in an Urban Context: Analysis of Socio-Economic Causes and Sustainable Strategic Solutions in Bangladesh, conducted by development organization Educo. The report notes that while government agencies, NGOs, and development partners are involved in child labor prevention and rehabilitation, the lack of sustainable and coordinated action plans limits long-term impact.
The study recommends integrating child labor eradication into broader urban development planning, including housing, healthcare, education, and climate adaptation strategies. Speaking at the event organized by Educo Bangladesh and the Child Labor Elimination Platform (CLAP), Educo Bangladesh Manager Afzal Kabir Khan stressed that eliminating child labor requires coordinated, evidence-based, and child-centered approaches involving government institutions, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, and communities to build safe and dignified urban environments for children.
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