Informal child labor in Dhaka City: Exploring the pull factors and health sufferings of children involved in waste management

Abstract
Child labor is a major social and public health conundrum in many developing countries. 152 million children (64 million girls and 88 million boys) are still engaged in child labour. Despite increasing research over the last two decades on the detrimental impacts of child labor, it remains a significant concern globally. Waste management (WM) often remains unregulated, and it is easy for disadvantaged and poor children to involve in this hazardous sector, as they find this as easy access to livelihood opportunities. It was estimated that one out of every six children in Bangladesh is working. In this backdrop, this study considers the city waste management sector and attempt to understand the socioeconomic profile of the children working in this sector in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, their working conditions, terms and conditions in their formal and informal contracts, and to review existing intervention and policies regarding child labor. This study proposes a mixed methods study among children (aged between 5 and 17 years) involved in WM including waste collection from home, waste segregation and recycling at secondary transfer station. Under the quantitative component, this study proposes to conduct a cross-sectional survey covering all STSs of Dhaka city. A structured questionnaire will be used for quantitative data collection. In-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) will be followed to collect qualitative data through purposive sampling. A mixed methods design provides better flexibility to the researchers to collect data using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, analyze data using the two approaches, allow data triangulation and finally draw a comprehensive conclusion based on the research findings.

Key factors
Poverty, family involvement, dropout from school, easy access to waste management related work

Key outcomes
Child labor, knowledge & attitude of waste collection, occupational safety and health