How has child labour been normalised in Bangladesh?

: A critical analysis of policies, factors, views, and evidence

Abstract

Despite several legal and policy interventions, child labour is still prevalent in many developing countries. Bangladesh has enacted legislation, formulated policies, and introduced programmes to eradicate child labour by 2025, yet current evidence and narratives indicate that all forms of child labour are widely normalised in the country. This research project set out to unpack this puzzle in 2019. This critical overview document is grounded in the seven research outputs (peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers) the researcher authored between 2019 and 2023. The outputs are coherently organised to address the overarching research question: how did various factors contribute to the widespread acceptance and normalisation of child labour in Bangladesh? The initial literature review paper identified the research gap and shaped the theoretical and empirical research outputs. Although each output independently addresses a research question, when combined, the findings and analyses construct a comprehensive understanding of the local culture, human behaviours, and community beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge in relation to child labour in Bangladesh. The empirical outputs are based on fieldwork that the researcher carried out in refugee camps as well as rural, peri-urban, and urban areas of Bangladesh. Qualitative data was collected in phases from September 2020 to March 2023. This research makes a theoretical contribution by reviewing and challenging existing academic understanding, collating contemporary views and debates, and offering a fresh socio-ecological perspective on the issue. The socio-ecological perspective guided this research to explore and critically examine the role of sociocultural, environmental, and structural factors in normalising child labour in various contexts across the country. The data, analyses, illustrations, and evidence generated through this study are valuable for relevant actors, including academics, practitioners, and policymakers. Together, the research outputs shed light on the limitations of current anti-child labour policies and signify the importance of including the voices of working children, parents, and local community members in finding a sustainable solution to global child labour.

Date of Award	Apr 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Coventry University
Supervisor	Hazel Barrett (Supervisor) & Jasber Singh (Supervisor)