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The Subterranean Child Labour Force: Subcontracted home-based manufacturing in Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Santosh Mehrotra
  • Mario Biggeri

Abstract

Child labour is widespread in home based manufacturing activities in the informal sector in most developing countries. This form of child labour will not attract the penal provisions of a country’s laws banning child labour. This paper draws on surveys carried out in five Asian countries – two low-income (India, Pakistan) and three middle-income countries (Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand) – where production of manufactured goods is subcontracted to home based workers widely. It examines the incidence of child work in such households, the child’s schooling, reasons why children are working, their work conditions, their health, and gender issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Santosh Mehrotra & Mario Biggeri, 2002. "The Subterranean Child Labour Force: Subcontracted home-based manufacturing in Asia," Papers inwopa02/23, Innocenti Working Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucf:inwopa:inwopa02/23
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Santosh Mehrotra & Mario Biggeri, 2002. "Social Protection in the Informal Economy: Home based women workers and outsourced manufacturing in Asia," Papers inwopa02/24, Innocenti Working Papers.
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    16. Santosh Mehrotra, 2001. "The Rhetoric of International Development Targets and the Reality of Official Development Assistance," Papers inwopa01/14, Innocenti Working Papers.
    17. Enrique Delamonica & Santosh Mehrotra & Jan Vandemoortele, 2001. "Is EFA Affordable? Estimating the global minimum cost of 'Education for All'," Papers inwopa01/15, Innocenti Working Papers.
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    Cited by:

    1. D. Jayaraj & S. Subramanian, 2007. "Out of School and (Probably) in Work," Journal of South Asian Development, , vol. 2(2), pages 177-226, July.
    2. Santosh Mehrotra & Mario Biggeri, 2002. "Social Protection in the Informal Economy: Home based women workers and outsourced manufacturing in Asia," Papers inwopa02/24, Innocenti Working Papers.
    3. John Micklewright, 2003. "Child Poverty in English-Speaking Countries," Papers inwopa03/25, Innocenti Working Papers, revised 2003.
    4. Mehrotra, Santosh & Biggeri, Mario, 2005. "Can industrial outwork enhance homeworkers' capabilities? Evidence from clusters in South Asia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1735-1757, October.
    5. Punová, Monika & Navrátil, Pavel & Navrátilová, Jitka, 2020. "Capabilities and well-being of child and adolescent social services clients in the Czech Republic," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    child labour; child workers; economic development; education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J82 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Labor Force Composition

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