Child labour and economic morality cannot go hand in hand: Adviser Sharmeen

When child labour is prevalent in a society, it reflects an unethical economic framework, Social Welfare and Women and Child Affairs Adviser Sharmeen S Murshid has said.

"Poverty and child labour are inextricably linked. So, poverty alleviation must be prioritised in eliminating child labour," she said at a shadow parliament organised by the platform, Democracy for Debate, in observance of the World Day Against Child Labour 2025 at the FDC in the capital today(21 June).

The adviser highlighted that the state and society cannot be pitted against each other to eliminate child labour. "All concerned, including the state, society, private sector, development partners, must work together."

Sharmeen said the previous government set a terrible precedent by changing the definition of a sensitive social issue like child marriage, lowering the age of marriage from 18 to 16. "As a result, the country's long-standing achievements in preventing child marriage have not been sustainable."

Chairing the event, Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, chairman of Debate for Democracy, alleged that the Awami League government spent Tk352 crore in two phases on various projects to eliminate the practice of child labour, but the benefits did not materialise due to widespread corruption.

"There have been widespread irregularities in the distribution of project funds. There are allegations of corruption in the selection of disadvantaged working children, training programems, and the payment of funds earmarked for income-enhancing activities," he stated.

Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman and Head of the Labour Administration Division of the ILO Bangladesh Office Neeran Ramjuthan were special guests at the event.

Among others, senior secretary of the women and children affairs ministry Momtaz Ahmed and secretary of the Cabinet Division (Coordination and Reforms) Zaheda Parveen spoke at the event.

Currently, the number of children engaged in labour in Bangladesh is more than 35 lakh. There are 34 lakh street children, of which around 11 lakh are engaged in hazardous work.

Of the street children, 94% do not receive any benefits from social security programmes, and more than 58% do not have a birth certificate. Also, 46% of female street children are victims of sexual abuse.