School Work Choice Patterns and Hazardous Forms of Child Labor in KP: Evidence from MICS (2019)

Abstract

According to the first and only National Child Labor Survey of Pakistan in 1996, approximately 3.3 million children aged 5-14 were engaged in child labor, and 46% of them worked more than 35 hours per week. This study aims to analyze the factors that drive school-going children to work, and specifically to hazardous forms of child labor. Using the MICS-6 KP (2019) UNICEF data for children aged 5-17, a sequential logit model (three-stage process) was developed to predict whether a child will be sent to school, then whether a school-going child will work, and finally whether the child's work environment is hazardous or non-hazardous. The study also analyzed the factors that contribute to hidden forms of child labor and idleness in children. Male children, children with a higher birth order, and older children were more likely to work and engage in hazardous work. Parental education, especially mother's education, played a vital role in mitigating child involvement in work and hazardous work when the child is attending school. Children with fathers who had migrated internationally or domestically were less likely to be involved in work and hazardous work. The wealth index was also important in mitigating child involvement in work and hazardous work, and in schoolwork combining activity as well. Children in urban areas were less likely to be involved in work and hazardous work. The study also found that with increasing age, the number of idle children increased, and was highest in the 12-14 age group, specifically for females. Hidden child labor was highest in rural areas for the 12-14 age group, specifically for females.