Condition of child labour inside Bangladesh’s bidi factories horrible, shocking: Study

A new research has revealed the appalling picture of child labour inside the bidi factories of Bangladesh.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 18 April 2018, 04:31 PM
Updated : 18 April 2018, 04:31 PM

The research article published in the International Journal of Behavioral and Healthcare Research termed the condition “horrible and shocking”.

Bangladeshi researchers carried out the study aiming to influence the upcoming budget for 2018-19 fiscal.

Bidi is locally made hand-rolled cigarette. Poor people mostly smoke this as it is the cheapest among the smoking products.

In the study, a qualitative research has been conducted to analyse child labour situation in bidi factories in two northern districts of Bangladesh.

Although the signboard reads children are not allowed inside the factories, the actual situation is different, the research found.

The research has found around 50 percent to 70 percent of the labour force in bidi industry is children. Standard criteria of operational health and safety are not maintained inside the bidi factory. Younger children are more involved in preparing bidi shells.

The study also found the wages for child labour are very low, even less than the national average. Children involved in bidi factory works are not regular at school and suffering from malnutrition.

Both parents and broadly the tobacco industry have been taking advantages of the vulnerable children.

While the children are supposed to enjoy their childhood studying and playing, they are actually ruining their future, both by direct and indirect influence of family and bidi producers, the researchers commented.

They observed proper implementation of child labour-related laws, measures to lessen bidi demand and supply, and awareness among family members are badly needed to eradicate child labour in bidi factories. They also suggested further research to see the future of child labours.

As eliminating child labour requires launching and implementing legislation and intervention, strong monitoring by the government is a prerequisite, at least for the existing laws, the researchers suggested.

They also said research may also be carried out about how reduced child labour contributes to long-term resource mobilisation in developing countries. “Child labour is a national problem and hence, requires a holistic approach,” the study concluded.