Child labor is common in Bangladesh, with 4.8 million or 12.6% of children aged 5 to 17 in the workforce. Bangladesh government aims to eliminate hazardous child labor from the country by 2021. In 2020, the Government of Bangladesh is working to reduce child labor through the 2021-2025 National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour.

Child laborers in Khulna, Satkhira and Jessore districts of the country face poor living conditions. Most of the child laborers here are from Dalit, marginalized and climate vulnerable communities. They live in climate vulnerable areas with inadequate housing, limited access to clean water and inadequate sanitation facilities. Moreover, climate change is the death blow. These children are part of families that face economic hardship, forcing them to contribute to the family income from an early age.

Working children are engaged in various types of labor including street vendors, domestic work, fishing, brick kiln workers or agricultural work. Their working hours are long and arduous, which affects their physical and mental well-being. Education often lags behind because of job demands, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and limiting their future prospects.

These may include initiatives to improve access to education, raise awareness of children’s rights and help families break the cycle of poverty. Additionally, efforts to improve living conditions, health care and social services are crucial for the overall well-being of working children.