Child work and labour in Ethiopia: literature review and policy implications

Book section

This chapter aims to provide a preliminary bibliographical resource, an initial critical review of the literature, new insights on child work and labour in Ethiopia, and suggestions for future lines of research. The first part considers the different disciplinary and methodological approaches used to study the issues; we suggest that the various disciplinary lenses through which child work and labour have been studied result in a fragmented rather than an integrated picture. Moreover, we argue that there is a dichotomy between quantitative approaches, many of which have focused on rural surveys and the linkages between child work and education, and qualitative approaches that have concentrated on urban areas and vulnerable children. The second part briefly reviews findings from quantitative research notably on the prevalence of child work and its distribution, children’s time use and their contribution to the household economy, the impacts of government rural development and food security programmes on child work, and the implications of work for children’s health and wellbeing. The third part considers key findings from qualitative research on the work that children do, in particular that of children at risk focusing on the main categories studied, and discusses the value and meaning of work and changing work norms. The fourth part considers the policy context, international and national legal frameworks, policies and action plans. The fifth part considers interventions within the country to address child labour. The final part draws overall conclusions and identifies research gaps.

Authors: Pankhurst, A; Crivello, G; Chuta, N; Tiumelissan, A; Valdez, L

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Ethiopian Society of Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists
• Host title: Social Transformation in a Period of Growth in Ethiopia
• Pages: 79-132
• Place of publication: Addis Ababa
• Publication date: 2014-01-01
• Edition: 1
• Language: English