Household poverty on the prevalence of child labour in Masaka district; Case study: Masaka municipality

Abstract

Child labour is work performed by children under 18years of age which is exploitative, hazardous or inappropriate for their age, and which is detrimental to their schooling, or social, mental, spiritual and moral development. Child labour has been a major global issue affecting children around the world. Many children under the age of 18 are working in different sectors. It was generally established that child labour is a hindrance to developmental programmes by negatively affecting the targeted next generations. The study attempted to assess the influence of household poverty on prevalence of child labour in Masaka Municipality. The objectives of this study were, to examine how low household income influence child labor, to examine how of household size affect child labor and to examine the influence of household unemployment on child labor in Masaka Municipality. In terms of research methodology, a qualitative research approach was used in the context of a case-study research design., which offers a critical in analysing the problem of child labour. The study sampled 32 respondents composed of children, parents/guardians, NGO managers and district officials. The study used interviews and group focussed discussions to obtain data. The findings of the study were, poverty was the main driver of child labour in Masaka Municipality, household income, household size and household unemployment influence child labour in Masaka Municipality. Recommendations were made, stronger government intervention, training and awareness raising, budget allocations for activities for combating child labour, adopting a zero-tolerance for child labour, policy and law implementation. Facilitation of the Universal Primary Education programme to be improved and stronger bye-laws should be adopted