A CHILDHOOD spent in school, playing with friends, and dreaming of the future鈥攖his should be the reality for every child. Yet, for millions in Bangladesh, childhood is defined by long hours of exhausting labour, meagre wages, and lost opportunities. Whether sewing garments in dimly lit factories, carrying bricks under the scorching sun, or working behind closed doors in domestic servitude, these children remain invisible to policymakers, businesses, and consumers who benefit from their exploitation. Despite decades of legal reforms and international pressure, child labour remains one of the country鈥檚 most entrenched socio-economic crises. While official reports celebrate progress in the formal sector, the reality is that countless children remain invisible 鈥� working in hazardous conditions, deprived of education, and robbed of their futures.听听听
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Crisis of scale
BANGLADESH Bureau of Statistics and the International Labour Organisation, an estimated 3.45 million children aged 5 to 17 are engaged in labour, with a significant proportion enduring hazardous conditions. The garment industry, the backbone of Bangladesh鈥檚 economy, remains complicit 鈥� while major export factories comply with regulations, smaller, unregistered units still employ underage workers. Beyond textiles, children toil in brick kilns, agriculture, domestic service, and street vending. The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, forcing more children into work as families struggle to survive. School closures, parental job losses, and economic desperation have pushed education further out of reach, while a surge in child marriages has exacerbated vulnerabilities for young girl.
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Casuses
THE root causes of child labour are deeply interwoven with Bangladesh鈥檚 economic and social fabric. Poverty remains the primary driver, as families rely on their children鈥檚 earnings for basic survival. For many low-income households, children are not dependents but contributors 鈥� education is a luxury they cannot afford. Even when primary schooling is technically free, hidden costs such as transport, uniforms, and materials make it inaccessible for the poorest. Poor teaching standards and inadequate school infrastructure further deter attendance, particularly in rural areas.
Cultural norms also sustain the crisis. In many communities, child labour is not just tolerated but expected, particularly in informal sectors like domestic service and agriculture. Gendered expectations add another layer of exploitation 鈥� girls are disproportionately pushed into household labour, where they face higher risks of abuse and isolation.
Then there is the question of law enforcement. Bangladesh has legal frameworks designed to eliminate child labour, including the Labour Act 2006 and the National Child Labour Elimination Policy 2010, which aim to eradicate hazardous child labour by 2025. Yet these protections remain largely on paper. Corruption, inadequate resources, and lack of political will mean that businesses 鈥� especially in the informal sector 鈥� operate with impunity. Regulatory oversight is weak, inspections are rare, and employers face few consequences. Without meaningful enforcement, legal protections are little more than empty promises.听听听
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Across industries
THE industries where child labour is most prevalent are those that thrive in regulatory grey zones. While large garment factories have become more compliant under international scrutiny, many smaller workshops evade oversight, employing children in conditions where wages are meagre, hours are long, and safety is an afterthought. In agriculture, children work under extreme conditions, exposed to pesticides and are forced to endure physically gruelling labour in rice fields and tea plantations. Brick kilns, notorious for exploitative practices, rely heavily on child labourers, who perform backbreaking tasks in intense heat with no protective measures.
Domestic work remains one of the most hidden yet widespread forms of child labour, particularly affecting girls. These children work behind closed doors, beyond the reach of inspectors, facing long hours and vulnerability to abuse. Thousands more work on the streets, selling goods or collecting waste, exposed to exploitation and violence with no legal protection.
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Education imperative
IF CHILD labour is to be eradicated, education must be at the centre of the solution. Government initiatives like the primary education stipend programme and the reaching out-of-school children project have made strides in improving enrolment, but financial barriers, poor school infrastructure, and low-quality teaching still drive many children away from classrooms and into work. It is not enough to offer free schooling 鈥� education must be genuinely accessible, with targeted support for low-income families. Schools must be equipped with trained teachers, vocational training opportunities, and financial incentives to keep children enrolled. Without these measures, millions of children will continue to be funnelled into the workforce instead of the classroom.
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Beyond rhetoric
ERADICATING child labour in Bangladesh requires more than policy declarations; it demands systemic change. First, law enforcement must be strengthened. The government must increase labour inspections, particularly in informal sectors, and impose stricter penalties on those who violate child labour laws. Without accountability, businesses will continue to exploit vulnerable children.
Second, economic alternatives must be created for impoverished families. Expanding social safety nets, providing financial incentives, and ensuring sustainable employment for adults can reduce reliance on child labour. Microfinance schemes and income-generating initiatives should be prioritised to break the cycle of poverty.
Third, public attitudes must shift. Many communities still view child labour as an economic necessity rather than an injustice. Nationwide awareness campaigns can challenge these perceptions, highlighting the long-term consequences of lost childhoods and advocating for the value of education.
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Call to action
BANGLADESH cannot tackle this crisis alone. The international community, multinational corporations, and consumers all play a role in perpetuating 鈥� or ending 鈥� child labour. Companies sourcing from Bangladesh must commit to ethical labour practices, conducting rigorous audits to ensure their supply chains are free from exploitation. Consumers must demand transparency, refusing to support industries built on child labour.
Child labour is not inevitable. It is the result of choices 鈥� choices made by policymakers, businesses, and society at large. If Bangladesh is to break this cycle, those in power must stop treating child labour as an unfortunate by-product of poverty and start addressing it as a human rights violation. Every child deserves a future beyond work. It is time to stop looking away.
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Musharraf Tansen is a development analyst and former country representative of Malala Fund.
