Abstract

Child Labour is simply the most severe form of child exploitation and child abuse in Bangladesh. Working children as a socio-economic group, happens to be the most disadvantaged of all since they are forced to work for a livelihood by dint of sacrificing their childhood as well as their future for bare survival of their family. Of the estimated 16 million children in Bangladesh aged 10-14, over 6.8 million are working children. 41% of this group is girls. Children are engaged in over 300 different types of work of which 49% are considered harmful to their physical and/or mental health. Intolerable forms of child labour, as categorized by ILO, are domestic service, slavery or near slavery, hazardous occupations and sexual exploitation. All of these forms are practised in Bangladesh. Although law prohibits labour by children, including forced or bonded labour, the practice widely occurs. Enforcement of existing laws regarding prohibition of child labour is inadequate.