Child Labour: Causes, Impacts, and Solution
Author: Tanvi Jadhav
Literature Review
1. Determinants
Abebe and Fikre (2021) explain that child labour in rural Ethiopia is influenced by personal, family, and community factors. Older children are more likely to work, with girls mostly involved in household duties and boys in farm or physical labour. Poverty forces many families to depend on children’s income for survival. Children whose parents are uneducated are more likely to work instead of attending school. Lack of nearby schools and strong social beliefs that children should support their families also increase child labour. Abebe and Fikre emphasize that reducing child labour requires poverty reduction, better access to education, and changes in social attitudes.
2. Exploitation
Bhowmik (2025) highlights the harsh reality of child labour in mica and coal mines of Jharkhand. Children working in mines face serious health problems such as breathing issues, lung diseases, skin infections, and injuries due to unsafe conditions. Even though hazardous child labour is legally banned, illegal mining activities continue, especially in coal mining areas. Bhowmik stresses the need for strict monitoring of mining activities, strong punishment for employers, and regular health checkups to protect children from exploitation.
3. Poverty
The authors of the 2023 study on the luxury axiom and wealth paradox theory explain that poverty strongly pushes children into labour because families need additional income to survive. Financial shocks like job loss or reduced income increase dependence on children’s earnings. At the same time, families owning agricultural land may involve children in farm work to improve productivity. The authors also highlight that parental education plays an important role, as educated parents value schooling more. They suggest that improving rural income opportunities and increasing awareness about education can help reduce child labour.
4.Interventions
Dagim and Herman Hay (2021) show that social protection programs such as cash transfers, food assistance, and financial aid help reduce child labour in African countries. When families receive financial support, they are less pressured to send their children to work. Programs that make school attendance compulsory are more effective. However, small financial support may not fully replace children’s income, and some families continue to depend on child labour. Dagim and Herman Hay emphasize that long-term, well-funded programs combined with education reforms and adult employment opportunities are necessary.
5. Rights
Lähteenmäki-Uutela and colleagues (2024) connect child labour with food insecurity, climate change, and rising poverty. When families struggle to afford food, children are often forced to work to support the household. The authors stress that every child has the right to education, health, nutrition, and protection. They argue that governments must prioritize children’s rights while designing economic and agricultural policies. Strengthening nutrition programs, improving access to education, and building strong social protection systems are essential to protect children from labour exploitation.
6. Measurement
Lichand and Wolf (2025) discuss the difficulties in collecting accurate data on child labour. Many families underreport information because they fear legal consequences, and children may not clearly report their working hours. These challenges make it difficult to understand the real extent of child labour. Lichand and Wolf recommend improving survey methods, conducting confidential interviews with children, and using better monitoring technology. They highlight that accurate data is essential for creating effective policies and tracking progress.
7. Supply Chains
Lotfi and Pisa (2024) explain how child labour is connected to global supply chains. Many multinational companies source raw materials and products from developing countries where labour laws are weak or poorly enforced. Children often work in agriculture, textiles, mining, and manufacturing to reduce production costs. Lotfi and Pisa point out that corporate social responsibility programs are helpful but not sufficient.
They call for stronger international regulations, supply chain transparency, regular audits, and cooperation between governments and companies, along with greater consumer awareness.
8. Decline
Łukasiewicz (2023) describes how child labour gradually declined in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. During early industrialization, children worked in factories, mines, and agriculture because they were cheap labour. Łukasiewicz identifies compulsory education laws, labour protection laws, economic growth, and welfare systems as key reasons for the decline. Higher adult wages and social welfare programs reduced families’ dependence on children’s income. Łukasiewicz highlights that strong government policies and social protection systems played an important role alongside economic development.
9. Hazards
Rapatsa (2017) examines the legal framework addressing child labour in South Africa. Although the constitution strongly protects children’s rights, child labour still exists in farms, domestic work, street trading, and other informal sectors. Poverty, unemployment, and social inequality push families to depend on children’s earnings. Weak enforcement in rural and informal sectors makes monitoring difficult. Rapatsa stresses the importance of stronger law enforcement, regular labour inspections, public awareness campaigns, and poverty reduction strategies to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.
10. Trafficking
Zonato, Libralon, and Gianpaolo (2025) focus on children affected by armed conflict in Colombia. Political instability and conflict have made children vulnerable to forced recruitment, trafficking, and exploitation, especially in rural areas. Poverty, lack of education, and weak government control increase the risk. Zonato and colleagues emphasize the need for peace-building efforts, improved access to education, rural economic development, rehabilitation services, and reintegration programs. Long-term social support and strong government action are essential to protect children from re-exploitation.
Conclusion:
Child labour continues to affect millions of children worldwide due to poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, weak law enforcement, and political instability. Many families depend on children’s income for survival, especially in rural areas, mining regions, informal sectors, and conflict zones. Limited access to education and social inequality further increase children’s vulnerability.
Research shows that strong education systems, effective labour laws, social protection programs, and economic development can significantly reduce child labour. Lasting change requires proper policy implementation, transparent supply chains, and long-term government commitment. Protecting children’s rights and ensuring access to education and basic needs are essential for building a fair and sustainable society.
References:
1.Abebe, G., & Fikre, S. (2021) Individual, household, and community level factors of child labour in rural Ethiopia. Cogent Social Sciences, Vol 7(1), 1961402, pp 1–12 https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2021.1961402
2. Bhowmik, D. (2025). The challenges of child labour in the mines of Jharkhand: Critically analysing the effectiveness of international conventions on child rights. International Journal of Law and Social Sciences, Vol 11(1), pp 49–56 https://doi.org/10.60143/ijls.v11.i1.2025.158
3. Child labour and its determinants: An empirical test of the luxury axiom-cum the wealth paradox theory. (2023). Cogent Economics & Finance, Vol 11(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2023.2282890
4. Dagim, D. G., & Herman Hay, M. L. (2021). The role of stomach infrastructures on children’s work and child labour in Africa: Systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18(16), 8563. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168563
5. Lähteenmäki-Uutela, A., Sormunen, M., Marimuthu, S. B., Grmelová, N., Ituarte-Lima, C., & Lonkila, A. (2024). Rights of the child as imperatives for transforming food systems. Ecology and Society, Vol 29(3) 15398. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-15398-290329
6. Lichand, G., & Wolf, S. (2025). Measuring child labor: The who’s, the where’s, the when’s, and the why’s. PLoS One, Vol 20(6). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322987
7. Lotfi, M., & Pisa, N. (2024). Child slavery in supply chains: Actors of the dirty scene. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, Vol 18(0). https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v18i0.942
8. Łukasiewicz, D. (2023). Two models of child labour in the past. Studia Historiae Oeconomicae, Vol 41(2), pp 145–164. https://doi.org/10.14746/sho.2023.41.2.008
9. Rapatsa, M. (2017). Understanding trends in the worst forms of child labour and the state’s legal responses: A descriptive analysis. Juridical Tribune Journal, Vol 7(Special Issue), pp 186–199.
10. Zonato, I., Libralon, M., & Gianpaolo, P. S. (2025). Child trafficking and recruitment in armed conflicts: Exploring the worst forms of child labour from a Colombian perspective. Social Sciences, Vol 14(2), 85. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14020085