Determinants of Child Labor at Brick Kilns: A Study of District Bhakkar, Pakistan


Kamran Ishfaq, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan; Muhammad Hassan Raza Ansari, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan

Child labor is a global issue but it affects developing countries like Pakistan. According to Federal Bureau of Statistics Pakistan, about 3.3 million children are trapped in child labor, deprived of their childhood, health and education. Due to long working hour’s children social, psychological and physical development become badly damaged. Children are deprived from their basic fundamental rights, welfare and development. According to the Global Slavery Index, Pakistan is placed third among the nations where child labor is most prevalent. Children are forced to work in miserable conditions and are subjected to physical and emotionally abuse. The worst form of child exploitation and forced labor are prevalent at Brick Kilns industry. Employers of bricks compel innocent children to work in inhumane conditions in the brickmaking process. Poverty is a major factor of child labor. When families are living below poverty line and have lack of basic necessities, children frequently become an additional source of money to help their family’s survival. The present study is conducted to identify the socio- economic determinants of child labor at brick kilns in the district Bhakkar Punjab, Pakistan. This study is based on quantitative research design and data were collected from child labors (14-17 year of age) that were working at brick kilns. Total numbers of 384 respondents were selected from 284 registered brick kilns of district Bhakkar, Punjab Pakistan. Data were collected through convenient sampling technique and were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). In this study majority of the respondents were aged between 14-17 years and mostly were male. Grater parts of the respondents were local residents and afghan migrants. Majority of the respondents were no own homes and nor have any land or property. They were living in the master’s provided home. The study reported that poverty, lack of education, lack of awareness, culture of the region, adopting family profession, children interest in earning instead of education, and unavailability of skill institution for children are the major determinants of child labor. Majority of the children’ parents were working at brick kilns and were illiterate. Some respondents expressed that their wish is to continue their education but due to lack of support they are working at brick kilns to fulfill the basic needs of the family. The study suggested that raising the public's awareness about the adverse impacts of child labor on children's health, education, and development could reduce child labor at brick kilns. NGOs and Government organization working on child labor concerns at brick kilns can provide essential assistance to children and their families. Access to education, such as schools near kilns or mobile schools, can assist and ensure children's rights that education could not be compromised. Vocational Training Institutes must be constructed for these poor children so that they could get the technical skills rather than work as labor.

Non-presenting authors: Altar Hussain, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan; Ali Ahmed, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan

This paper will be presented at the following session: