Changing State and Prevalence of Child Labour in Carpet and Garment Industries in Nepal: Findings from a Nation-Wide Survey

Though Child Labour is declining in Nepal at the rate of 100,000 children every year, Nepal still accounts for 1.6 million children engaged in Child Labour in age-group of 5 to 17 years old. Of these 621,000 are estimated to be engaged in hazardous form of labour with over 60% girl children (ILO Nepal, 2020).

The major underlying cause of Child Labour in Nepal is extreme poverty which gets compounded because of existing social inequities and prevailing discrimination in the society. Additionally, the lack of education and little knowledge and awareness of society and parents force children to be Child Labour in Nepal Child Labour in Carpet and Garment Industry engaged into labour. The child labour brings detrimental impact on children’s wellbeing. Children involved into labour experience permanent physical and psychological harm with reduced opportunities for personal development. Children are usually denied access to education which reinforces the cycle of illiteracy and poverty. This effect is seen much more strongly in girls than in boys.

This study aimed to produce evidences on prevalence of child labour in the carpet and garment industries in the country, the two fast growing industries known for their high export share and foreign currency earnings during early 1990s and 2000s, which faced significant setback in their growth due for allegations of coercive child labour employment in them in the state period.