Than Zaw (Homalin)
Child labour refers to work performed by children that is harmful to their physical health, education, safety, and psychological development. It is not only a serious social problem but also an important economic issue because it can have long-term consequences for a country’s human capital and economic development. International organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF have been working with governments and other stakeholders to reduce and ultimately eliminate child labour worldwide.
According to the ILO and UNICEF, millions of children around the world continue to be engaged in child labour, with a significant proportion involved in hazardous work. Although the global number of children in labour has declined substantially since 2000, progress has slowed in recent years, indicating that stronger and faster action is still needed. Africa has the largest number of children involved in child labour, followed by the Asia-Pacific region. Agriculture remains the largest sector in which children work, while others are employed in services and industry. Poverty, inadequate social protection, limited access to quality education, and vulnerable family livelihoods are among the major factors contributing to child labour.
The ILO and UNICEF have emphasized the importance of investing in social protection, education, decent work opportunities, and responsible business practices throughout supply chains in order to address the root causes of child labour.
How Does Child Labour Affect Economic Growth?
(1) It Reduces the Quality of Human Capital
Economic growth depends heavily on a country’s human resources, the skills and knowledge of its population. Children who enter the workforce at an early age are more likely to leave school or receive less education. As a result, they may lack the knowledge and skills needed to obtain productive and well-paid employment in adulthood. Over time, a large number of poorly educated workers can reduce a country’s productivity, innovation, and overall economic potential.
(2) It Perpetuates the Cycle of Poverty
Child labour may provide additional income for poor families in the short term, but its long-term consequences can be harmful. Children who leave school early often have limited opportunities to acquire professional skills and may remain trapped in low-paid and insecure employment as adults. Their low income can make it difficult for them to provide better education and living conditions for their own children. In this way, child labour can contribute to the intergenerational cycle of poverty.
(3) It Can Reduce International Competitiveness
A high prevalence of child labour can negatively affect a country’s reputation in international markets, particularly when products are associated with poor labour conditions or violations of children’s rights. Such concerns may reduce consumer confidence and create challenges for businesses seeking access to international markets. In addition, countries with weak labour standards may find it more difficult to attract responsible foreign investment and participate in global supply chains that require higher social and environmental standards.
(4) It Creates Long-Term Health and Social Costs
Children involved in hazardous or age-inappropriate work may suffer physical injuries, chronic health problems, psychological stress, and other forms of harm. These consequences can reduce their ability to work productively later in life and may increase the need for public health and social welfare services. Therefore, the economic cost of child labour extends beyond the individual child and family and can place an additional burden on society and government resources.
How Can Child Labour Be Reduced?
(1) Implementing Poverty-Reduction Policies
Poverty is one of the major drivers of child labour. Governments should therefore strengthen policies that improve household income and economic security.
These measures may include creating decent work opportunities, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, improving access to social protection, and providing targeted assistance to vulnerable families. When parents have stable and adequate incomes, they are less likely to depend on their children’s earnings.
2. Providing Free and High-Quality Education
Access to affordable and high-quality education is one of the most effective ways to prevent child labour. Governments should ensure that children can attend school regardless of their family’s financial situation. Reducing education-related costs, providing scholarships and school supplies, improving school infrastructure, and supporting children from disadvantaged households can encourage school attendance.
(3) Strengthening Legislation and Enforcement
Strong laws alone are not sufficient unless they are effectively implemented. Governments should enforce minimum-age requirements for employment, strengthen workplace inspections, and take appropriate legal action against employers who violate child labour laws. Employers should also be informed about their legal responsibilities and encouraged to adopt responsible labour practices. Effective enforcement is particularly important in sectors where children are vulnerable to exploitation and hazardous working conditions.
(4) Raising Public Awareness
Public awareness is another important part of preventing child labour. Parents, children, employers, communities, and local organizations should understand the long-term educational, health, and economic consequences of child labor. Awareness campaigns can encourage families to prioritize education and help communities identify and respond to situations in which children are at risk. At the same time, support should be provided to parents so that children can return to school without causing severe financial hardship for their families.
Myanmar’s Efforts to Eliminate Child Labour
Myanmar has developed a national framework to address child labour, with particular attention to the worst forms of child labour. The national approach aims to prevent children from entering hazardous work, protect children who are legally permitted to work, remove children from dangerous workplaces, and provide appropriate support, education, and vocational training opportunities.
The National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour in Myanmar was designed as a long-term 15-year framework covering the period from 2019 to 2033. It is divided into three five-year phases. The plan focuses on several major areas, including collecting reliable baseline data, raising public awareness, strengthening institutional capacity, expanding education and vocational training opportunities, improving legislation and enforcement, eliminating and rehabilitating children involved in the worst forms of child labour, and improving livelihood opportunities for vulnerable families.
Successful implementation requires cooperation among government institutions, employers, workers’ organizations, communities, civil society organizations, and international development partners. Strong coordination among these stakeholders is essential to ensure that children are protected and that families have viable alternatives to relying on child labour.
Child labour may provide limited financial support to families in the short term, but its long-term consequences can be damaging to both individuals and the national economy. When children leave school prematurely and enter low-skilled employment, countries lose opportunities to develop a healthy, educated, and productive workforce. Child labour can also reinforce poverty, increase social and health-related costs, and create challenges for international competitiveness.
Therefore, eliminating child labour requires more than simply prohibiting children from working. It requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of the problem.
Poverty reduction, access to quality education, effective labour-law enforcement, social protection, public awareness, and better livelihood opportunities for families must work together. For Myanmar, the effective implementation of its national action plan, supported by reliable data and strong cooperation among relevant stakeholders, will be essential for creating a future in which every child has the opportunity to learn, develop, and contribute productively to the country’s economic and social development.
Reference:
• Joint ILO and UNICEF, Child Labour: Global estimates 2024, trends and the road forward.
• Ministry of Labour’s National Action Plan on the Elimination of Child Labour in Myanmar (2024-2028)