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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Preventing and Eliminating Worst Forms of Child Labor in Selected Formal and Informal Sectors in Bangladesh

Region/Country

ASIA/Bangladesh

Project Duration

September 2000 – August 2005

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2000: USD 5,587,663

Problem to be Addressed

At the time of project funding there were an estimated 6.3 million child workers between the ages of 5 to 14 in Bangladesh.  Many were exposed to multiple hazards, experienced serious physical and emotional work-related illnesses, and were not able to attend school.

Results

This project withdrew 25,995 children and prevented 5,463 children from work in selected hazardous sectors.  These included child domestic work; construction; and the bidi (hand-rolled cigarette), match and leather-tanning industries.  Geographic areas of focus were Chittagong, Dhaka, Kushtia, Manikganj, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Rangpur, and Tangail. 

Project Objectives

Contribute to the systematic prevention and elimination of worst forms of child labor in the geographical regions covered. 

Intermediate objectives:

  • At the end of the project, a strong foundation for the systematic prevention and elimination of worst forms of child labor in the selected sectors and regions will have been prepared through increased research and documentation;
  • At the end of the project, the worst forms of child labor in the selected sectors and regions will have been substantially reduced through the direct action programs aimed at the withdrawal, social protection and rehabilitation of children in a time-bound and systematic manner;
  • At the end of the project, selected younger siblings of project beneficiaries will have been prevented from entering the worst forms of child labor through economic empowerment of parents and the introduction of a continuous mechanism for workplace and community monitoring;
  • At the end of the project, instances of commitments made and action taken against the worst forms of child labor by the government, social partners, families, communities and the general public, jointly and separately, will have been increased through advocacy and awareness raising; and
  • At the end of the project, the capacity of government, in particular the MOLE, in addressing the worst forms of child labor countrywide, will have been increased through the strengthened institutional capability and updated national statistics on the child labor situation.

Summary of Activities
  • Built a strong foundation for the systematic prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labor through increased research and documentation;
  • Reduced the worst forms of child labor in the selected sectors and regions through direct action programs aimed to withdraw and prevent children from hazardous conditions;
  • Prevented younger siblings from entering the worst forms of child labor through the economic empowerment of parents and the introduction of a continuous mechanism for workplace and community monitoring;
  • Conducted awareness raising to increase commitment and action within the government and amongst social partners, families, communities and the general public; and
  • Strengthened institutional capacity and updated national statistics to improve government capacity to address the worst forms of child labor.

Grantee

Implementing Partners

International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)

Ministries of Labor and Employment, Industries, and Education; Department of Inspection of Factories and Establishments; Department of Labor, Primary and Mass Education Division; Directorate of Primary Education; Directorate of Non-Formal Education; Social Welfare Department; local government authorities; employers and managers; representatives of active trade unions; community leaders; Shoishab Bangladesh (SB); Nari Maitree (NM); Palli Mongal Karmasuchi (PMK); Centre for Development Services (CDS); Society for Underprivileged Families (SUF); People Integer Progressive Association for Social Activities (PIPASA); Bangladesh Development Service Center (BDSC); Light House (LH); Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO); Bangladesh Rural Advancement Council (BRAC); Society for Social Service (SSS); Society of Environment Pollution Control (SEPOC); Social Advancement Through Unity (SATU); SETU-Kushtia; Chhinnamukul Bangladesh (CB);  Development Center International (DCI); Social and Economic Enhancement Programme (SEEP); United Development Initiatives for Programmed Actions (UDDIPAN); Surjamukhi Mohila Samaj Kalyan Sangstha (SMSKS); Organization for Social Development and Research (OSDER); Bangladesh Village Development Program (BVDP); Bangladesh Mohila Sangha (BMS); Bangladesh Extension Education Services (BEES).

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843