IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v34y2026i2p2207-2220.html

Addressing Child Labour in SAARC: The Synergy of Education, Health and Economic Growth Towards SDGs

Author

Listed:
  • Himashi Muthugala
  • Tharaka Magammana
  • Ayodhya Perera
  • Amanda Bandara
  • Ruwan Jayathilaka

Abstract

Child labour remains a critical socio‐economic challenge in the SAARC region, closely linked to sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study investigates the determinants of child labour by examining the roles of education, health and economic growth using a robust methodological framework. The analysis captures the non‐linear country‐specific relationships between these variables and child labour, employing advanced methodological approaches, including multiple polynomials, stepwise and simple polynomial regression. The findings reveal a complex interplay of factors, with each variable showing positive and negative effects on child labour in country‐specific contexts. Improved access to education generally reduces child labour, but disparities in quality and affordability can have the opposite effect. Health improvements significantly lower child labour rates, yet unequal healthcare access perpetuates exploitation among vulnerable groups. Economic growth shows dual effects: it promotes adult employment and alleviates poverty, yet unregulated expansion in specific sectors can heighten the demand for child labour. This study makes a novel contribution by integrating socio‐economic determinants with child labour within a regional framework, providing actionable insights while aligning with SDGs 3, 4, 8 and 8.7. Key policy recommendations include fostering regional collaboration, ensuring access to free education, enacting and enforcing new laws, improving healthcare infrastructure and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth. These measures align with global SDG commitments but aim to secure a brighter future for the region's children by achieving these goals by 2030.

Suggested Citation

  • Himashi Muthugala & Tharaka Magammana & Ayodhya Perera & Amanda Bandara & Ruwan Jayathilaka, 2026. "Addressing Child Labour in SAARC: The Synergy of Education, Health and Economic Growth Towards SDGs," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 2207-2220, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:2:p:2207-2220
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70451
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70451
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.70451?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kamalika Chakraborty & Bidisha Chakraborty, 2019. "Will An Increase In Landholding Size Reduce Child Labour In The Presence Of Unemployment? A Theoretical Analysis," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 64(221), pages 85-106, April – J.
    2. Mahmood Hussain & Keith E. Maskus, 2003. "Child Labour Use and Economic Growth: An Econometric Analysis," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(7), pages 993-1017, July.
    3. Tushi Baul & Susan L. Ostermann, 2023. "Legal knowledge and child labour in Nepal: Does knowing the law make a difference?," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 41(5), September.
    4. L.Guarcello & S.Lyon & F.Rosati, 2006. "Child labour and Education for All: an issue paper," UCW Working Paper 19, Understanding Children's Work (UCW Programme).
    5. Ambreen Fatima, 2017. "Child labour in Pakistan: Addressing supply and demand side labour market dynamics," The Economic and Labour Relations Review, , vol. 28(2), pages 294-311, June.
    6. Sara Burrone & Gianna Claudia Giannelli, 2020. "Child Labour, Gender and Vulnerable Employment in Adulthood. Evidence for Tanzania," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(12), pages 2235-2250, December.
    7. Contreras, Salvador, 2008. "Child labor participation, human capital accumulation, and economic development," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 499-512, March.
    8. Trong-Anh Trinh, 2020. "Mental Health Impacts of Child Labour: Evidence from Vietnam and India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(12), pages 2251-2265, December.
    9. Md Abdul Ahad & Mitu Chowdhury & Yvonne K. Parry & Eileen Willis, 2021. "Urban Child Labor in Bangladesh: Determinants and Its Possible Impacts on Health and Education," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Sheikh Jafar Emran & Andrew Schmitz, 2024. "Effect of the Social Safety Net on Child Labor and School Retention in Bangladesh: Empirical Evidence from HIES 2016," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 58(2), pages 195-214, April–Jun.
    11. Himashi Muthugala & Tharaka Magammana & Amanda Bandara & Ayodhya Perera & Ruwan Jayathilaka, 2025. "Unveiling the Economic Determinants of Child Labour in Africa: A Comprehensive Study of 37 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 18(3), pages 1329-1361, June.
    12. Hidayatina, Achsanah & Garces-Ozanne, Arlene, 2019. "Can cash transfers mitigate child labour? Evidence from Indonesia’s cash transfer programme for poor students in Java," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 1-1.
    13. Swaminathan, Madhura, 1998. "Economic growth and the persistence of child labor: Evidence from an Indian city," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 26(8), pages 1513-1528, August.
    14. Kambhampati, Uma S. & Rajan, Raji, 2006. "Economic growth: A panacea for child labor?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 426-445, March.
    15. Elisa Meneghello & Martina Menon & Federico Perali & Furio Rosati, 2025. "The shadow wage of child labor: An application to Nepal," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 359-383, February.
    16. Moehling, Carolyn M., 1999. "State Child Labor Laws and the Decline of Child Labor," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 72-106, January.
    17. Arif Hossain, 2024. "Effects of Educational Interventions on Child Labor in Developing Economies like Bangladesh," Journal of Developing Country Studies, IPRJB, vol. 8(2), pages 1-14.
    18. Jonathan Colmer, 2021. "Rainfall Variability, Child Labor, and Human Capital Accumulation in Rural Ethiopia," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(3), pages 858-877, May.
    19. Jeffrey M Wooldridge, 2010. "Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262232588, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Moana S. Simas & Laura Golsteijn & Mark A. J. Huijbregts & Richard Wood & Edgar G. Hertwich, 2014. "The “Bad Labor” Footprint: Quantifying the Social Impacts of Globalization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-27, October.
    2. Jinnat Ara & Dipanwita Sarkar & Jayanta Sarkar, 2021. "Like mother like daughter? Occupational mobility among children under asset transfer program in Bangladesh," QuBE Working Papers 061, QUT Business School.
    3. Oriana Bandiera & Myra Mohnen & Imran Rasul & Martina Viarengo, 2019. "Nation-building Through Compulsory Schooling during the Age of Mass Migration," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 129(617), pages 62-109.
    4. Danusha Jayawardana & Nadezhda V. Baryshnikova & Terence C. Cheng, 2023. "The long shadow of child labour on adolescent mental health: a quantile approach," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 77-97, January.
    5. Manoranjan Pal & Jadab K. Pal & Hare Ram Tiwari & Premananda Bharati, 2011. "What makes child workers go to school? A case study from West Bengal," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 150(3-4), pages 375-386, December.
    6. repec:rdg:wpaper:em-dp2009-07 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Heather Congdon Fors, 2012. "Child Labour: A Review Of Recent Theory And Evidence With Policy Implications," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 570-593, September.
    8. Pedro V. Goulart & Nuno Sobreira & Gianluca Ferrittu & Arjun S. Bedi, 2025. "Correction: What Led to the Decline of Child Labour in the European Periphery? A Cointegration Approach with Long Historical Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 178(1), pages 609-609, May.
    9. Shahateet, Mohammed Issa, 2022. "Does child labour increase unemployment and reduce labour force participation? Empirical evidence from Jordan," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    10. Nigar Hashimzade & Uma Kambhampati, 2009. "Growth and Inverted U in Child Labour: A Dual Economy Approach," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2009-07, Department of Economics, University of Reading.
    11. Bang, James & Mitra, Aniruddha & Abbas, Faisal, 2023. "Remittances and Child Labor in Pakistan: A Tale of Complementarities," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1285, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    12. Tharaka Magammana & Ayodhya Perera & Amanda Bandara & Himashi Muthugala & Ruwan Jayathilaka, 2026. "Drivers of Child Labour: Socio-Economic Insights from the 15 Worst-Affected Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 19(2), pages 795-822, April.
    13. Alem, Yonas & Tato, Gidisa Lachisa, 2023. "Shocks and mental health: Panel data evidence from South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    14. repec:rdg:wpaper:em-dp2009-06 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Edmonds, Eric V., 2008. "Child Labor," Handbook of Development Economics, in: T. Paul Schultz & John A. Strauss (ed.), Handbook of Development Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 57, pages 3607-3709, Elsevier.
    16. Himashi Muthugala & Tharaka Magammana & Amanda Bandara & Ayodhya Perera & Ruwan Jayathilaka, 2025. "Unveiling the Economic Determinants of Child Labour in Africa: A Comprehensive Study of 37 Countries," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 18(3), pages 1329-1361, June.
    17. Shahla Akram & Mehboob Ul Hassan & Muhammad Farrukh Shahzad, 2024. "Factors Fuelling the Persistence of Child Labour: Evidence from Pakistan," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(4), pages 1771-1790, August.
    18. Uma Kambhampati, 2009. "Is Rural Child Labour Declining in India?," Economics Discussion Papers em-dp2009-06, Department of Economics, University of Reading.
    19. Eric V. Edmonds & Norbert Schady, 2012. "Poverty Alleviation and Child Labor," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 4(4), pages 100-124, November.
    20. Mengyuan Zhou, 2022. "Does the Source of Inheritance Matter in Bequest Attitudes? Evidence from Japan," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 867-887, December.
    21. Campbell, Randall C. & Nagel, Gregory L., 2016. "Private information and limitations of Heckman's estimator in banking and corporate finance research," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 186-195.
    22. Christopher Dick-Sagoe & Ernest Ngeh Tingum & Peter Asare-Nuamah & Denis N. Yuni & Nicholas Baidoo, 2025. "Central transfers and incentives to collect local revenue among the Central Region of Ghana’s local government officials: analysing the flypaper effect," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:2:p:2207-2220. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.