CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
Child labour is a phenomenon brought about by heavy work that harms and exploits children of school going age and it is different from child work. It takes different forms, for example, agriculture domestic labour, commercial sexual exploitation of children, smuggling and other forms of cross border trade, street children, construction sector, information sector, fishing to mention but a few and all the above are as a result of HIV/AIDS epidemic, poverty, limited alternatives for children, weak public education sector poor or weak legal frame work, family expectations and traditions and so many others.
In Uganda like any other developing country, not much has been taken into consideration on the level of child labour yet the status is just increasing. On the basis above, improvement and elimination of child labour in Uganda is as important as it is elsewhere so that children given an opportunity to choose what they want to do in future and live their expectations.
1.1 Back ground of the study
This paper discusses the causes of child labour in commercial agriculture and agribusiness. Child labour impacts a lot on the lives of the children and the development of the country, it stops children from going to school hence denying them their rights to education. This leaves an illiterate population in the country that will not be able to plan appropriately for development.
Lack of education, throws a country in wide social-economic classes (income inequalities) thus the need to crush down child labour activities.
However, there are a number of organizations like International Labour Organisation (ILO), IPEC (NGOs), US DOL plus Care international for children Health including government of Uganda dealing with child related issues that have been chosen for the study.
The above organizations focus on many areas of the society, the people and children’s welfare is one of the greatest focus and they have tried to over come child labour situations in the country through the following ways.
Ø Eradication of poverty so as to ensure that children are going to school.
Ø Address discrimination in all it’s forms so as to equal treatment of children in all aspects of life.
Ø Elimination of the worst forms of child labour in commercial agriculture in Uganda.
Ø Former child labourers provided with formal education and vocational training in the selected plantations. And this is all done in the name reducing child labour in the country though the problem of HIV/AIDS that leaves the children parentless has not been solved fully more over it contributes to 50% of the causes of child labour. For example it is estimated that by December 2000, over 2 millio0n deaths had occurred due to HIV/AIDS related illness since it was identified in 1982.
The mortality that attributes to AIDS has contributed to the creation of more than 2 million orphans in Uganda. Such children acquire minimal formal education the factor that pushes them into child labour.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Child labour has long been identified as a problem in many countries both developing and developed. International and regional treaties namely; ILO, OAU, the Uganda constitution and the children statute 1996 have been put in place to address child labour issues.
Child labour is considered as norm in those communities with a sizeable portion of the population having limited resources. In those communities, many children are exposed to risky and hazardous working conditions, are exploited by being paid less and subsequently denied chance to get education thus affecting their future. Unfortunately, the children themselves some times do not have the opportunity to protest against those acts that are detrimental to their well being. Moreover, given that many children who are exposed to child labour are from poor and uneducated or orphaned families, the inability to protest in AGGRAVATED.
The situation has been worsened by HIV/AIDS pandemic which has claimed lives of parents leaving orphans who have to make a living for themselves. The international conventions together with the country’s laws on child labour are some of the attempts to address the problem including the worst forms of child labour.
Although there is growing concern for child labour, there is again limited knowledge on its causes, effects and magnitude of the problem in Uganda. However, the ILO has tried it’s best in providing support to poor families with income generating jobs as well as providing formal education and vocational training to children so as to do away with anything that could drive them into child labour, hence reducing it. However some families who believe in agriculture and so they become so resistant that they will drive their children into child labour. There fore proper understanding of the extent, structure and magnitude of child labour as well as children’s rights and responsibilities in the future is still lacking in many societies and settings hence child labour.
1.3 Research objectives
The major objective of the study is to analyse the causes of child labour in Nangabo sub county Wakiso district.
The specific objectives are
Ø To assess the categories of child labour.
Ø To determine the nature and extent of child labour in the country.
Ø To establish terms and conditions of work for child workers in the selected areas.
Ø To suggest mechanisms for societal training about the children’s rights which include the right to education and health.
1.4 Scope of the study
This provides for the boundaries of the study in terms of geographic spread, subject coverage, sample size and time period. The study will geographically cover areas of Wakiso district. In terms of content it will cover the causes of child labour, problems brought about by child labour and mechanisms put in place to address this child labour status.
1.5 Significance of the study
Study findings will help to improve children’s status in terms of health and education in Uganda.
The information gathered will also be used as abase line where necessary to improve the relevant programme in ILO/IPEC and also help the government where necessary to improve on the child labour conditions of the country through providing education centers, putting public gatherings and training s about the effects of child labour and improving agricultural sector by providing important tools to use instead of children.
1.6 Assumptions of the study
The following assumptions will be used to guide the study;
Ø Almost all children who do child labour live with out their parents.
Ø Most of the children affected come from poor families.
1.7 Definition of terms
- A child:
According to the constitution of Uganda (1995), a child is any person below the age of 18 years.
- Child work:
According to ILO convention No. 138 child work refers to activities done by children with in their families such as cooking, washing, farming and fetching fire wood and water under the observation and supervision of their elder family members (UDHS, 2000/2001).
- Child labour:
It is work that threatens the health, safety, physical growth and moral development of children involved and work that deprives them with opportunity to go to school. It includes use of dangerous tools, exposure to chemicals and dangerous substances, long hours of work, heavy work loads and tasks, cruelty, sexual abuse and exploitation that is when the children work when they are too young, for little or no pay and under hazardous conditions.
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature review
2.1 Introduction
Who is a child?
The Uganda constitution of 1995 declares the child as any person below the age of 18 years. Yet, the children’s ACT, cap 59 provides for the care, protection and maintenance of children and similarly defines a child as under the age of 18 years. It also highlights the basic requirements, which all stakeholders are supposed to uphold.
What is child work?
According to the ILO Convention number 138, child work refers to activities done by children within their families such as washing, fetching firewood, cooking and farming, which all are done under close observation and supervision of their families (parents/guardians). Children at their own will, at home normally perform these activities. The work must be light and interesting to the child and is aimed at mentoring the child for the future roles they are expected to do in maturity. Child work is expected to be valuable experience and an avenue to grow to physical and intellectual maturity in a situation free of commercial exploitation, moral decadence or punishment. Such work should not inflict pain or physical retardation (NOTU/ILO/IPEC, 2005).
What are child Rights?
These are the needs any child must be provided with to ensure that the child grows up healthy, happy and useful both to himself or herself, family and society. The children’s rights that are stipulated in the Uganda children’s ACT include:
a) Growing up with a family and possess a name and nationality.
b) To be loved.
c) Receive protection from harm, injury, abuse, defilement and to be guided by parents.
d) To receive audience when a decision affecting her or him is being determined depending on her/his age and ability to understand.
e) To be educated, receive medical care such as immunization against polio, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, cholera, etc.
f) To be protected from harmful customary or cultural practices.
g) To be protected from harmful employment.
h) To be accorded special care and dignity, education and training where necessary if suffering from disability in order to develop the child’s potential and self-reliance
i) To be given priority to receive help and protection in any situation of armed conflict or civil strife.
2.2 The nature, extent and magnitude of child labour
Statistical information on the extent of the problem is difficult to ascertain. Likewise the magnitude of such proxy indicators as orphaned or the population of children internally displaced was not available in most of the districts like Kabarole and Lira. However, the 2001 study teams were able to get school enrollment and the dropout statistics. The extent to which dropout can be equated to the child laborers depends on our acceptance of the phenomenon of mere universal enrollment in 2001 and when a child drops out of school, they automatically go in the work environment. However, the significance of dropouts as a proxy indicator of the magnitude of child with regard to the causes of dropout is a strong indicator of the factors that push children from school into realm of children working.
Primary school dropout trends
Table 1: Percentage of UPE Primary One Cohort Reaching Primary Five (1997-2001)
| Year | Level | Total | Girls | Boys | Girls% | Boys % | Both% |
| 1997 | P1 | 2,159,850 | 1,057,504 | 1,102,346 | 49 | 51 | 100 |
| 1998 | P2 | 1,312,593 | 640,648 | 671,945 | 30 | 31 | 61 |
| 1999 | P3 | 1,128,216 | 543,804 | 584,412 | 25 | 27 | 52 |
| 2000 | P4 | 962,052 | 466,098 | 495,954 | 22 | 23 | 45 |
| 2001 | P5 | 832,855 | 403,713 | 429,142 | 19 | 20 | 39 |
Source: Statistics Abstract, 2000; EMIS 2001.
Recent studies done on causes of children dropping out of primary school show that multiple social-economic related factors in the community and in the school are key in causing dropout and these are location specific and varied for boys and girls (Nakanyike, Kasente & Balihuta, 2002, DHS EdData Survey, 2001, Save the Children Fund, 2002). The DHS survey (2001), which had a national coverage, established that the majority of school going boys and girls aged 6-18 who have left school dropped out during primary school. Only about 10% dropped out while attending secondary school. The mean age at dropout for boys and girls is 13, indicating that children dropout at the time they are supposed to be completing primary school. The main causes of dropout can be multiple and are indicated in Table 2.
Table 2: Main Causes of Dropout at Primary School Level
| Reason for Dropout | Boys% | Girls% |
| 57.9 | 51.3 | |
| Labour needed | 8.7 | 15.9 |
| Failed exams and did not want to repeat | 10.9 | 10.1 |
| Child perception that had enough schooling | 28.2 | 20.9 |
| Disability or illness | 11.2 | 8.5 |
| School too far | 3.4 | 3.0 |
| Travel to school unsafe | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Poor school quality | 1.4 | 2.4 |
| No secondary school places | 3.3 | 5.7 |
| Number of dropouts that participated in study | 415 | 363 |
Source: Uganda DHS EdData Survey 2001 pp 59
The monetary costs of schooling continue to lead reasons for dropout even with UPE. Cost is cited as a factor more in urban than in rural areas. Children’s low aspiration for post primary education is the next important factor for dropping out of primary school, more pronounced among older children (13-18 years), more so boys, particularly in the Eastern region. The main attraction for boys outside school seems to be petty business to make their own money while it is early marriage and pregnancy in the case of girls.
The DHS EdData Survey (2001) indicated that marriage or pregnancy is an important factor for girls aged 13-18 years dropping out of primary school especially in the Eastern and Northern regions. Table 3 shows a breakdown of the magnitude of this factor by location.
Table 3: Marriage or Pregnancy as a Factor in Girls’ Primary School Dropout
| Percentage of girls aged 13-18 that dropped out of primary school | |||
| Location | Marriage or pregnancy as the cause of dropout | Number of girls | Mean age at dropout |
| Urban | 41 | 14.0 | |
| Rural | 13.1 | 239 | 15.0 |
| | | | |
Region | | | |
| Central | 8.6 | 102 | 15.6 |
| Eastern | 33.6 | 51 | 14.5 |
| Northern | 17.0 | 55 | 14.6 |
| Western | 3.0 | 73 | 15.4 |
| Total | 13.3 | 280 | 14.8 |
Data compiled by Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWE, 1994) in Eastern and Southern Africa indicates that school careers of many girls are cut short because of pregnancy either by the girls withdrawing themselves from school or through the national policies that ensure that pregnant girls are expelled from the education system with little or no chance of re-entry after delivery. Pre-marital pregnancy among girls is stigmatized both in school and most African communities mainly on moralistic grounds, without addressing factors that lead to pregnancy among school girls. For example, a recent series of studies conducted in Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe between 2000-2001 about management of puberty in primary schools all came to the same conclusion that the current management of sexual maturation within the primary education system is failing to meet the needs of all children, but especially girls. The education systems in the countries studied were found to be failing to provide children with; accessible and accurate knowledge and information about the process of sexual maturation, essential facilities to ensure that children, especially girls, are not excluded from full participation in the system because of their maturing bodies and an adequate and appropriate value system through which boys and girls can be guided into safe and healthy adulthood. The studies documented the ways in which poor management of sexual maturation had a detrimental impact on children’s acquisition of basic learning competencies and how girls experiencing menstruation without adequate preparation or facilities were regularly absent or even dropped out of primary school.
2.3 Different studies about child labour
These include different people or organizations that took concern to find about the causes and extent of child labour in the country.
One of them was by the Uganda bureau of statistics 2000/2001, a report based on Uganda demographic and health survey. In this report the main objective was to collect information on the extent of child labour on the household level and this was in addition to the other modules which aimed at collecting data on demographic, health and family planning status and trends in the country.
Data was collected using questionnaires which were divided into three categories, that is, the household questionnaire, the woman's questionnaire and the man's questionnaire. The questions on child labour were included in the household questionnaires which were used alongside interviews through trained teams that did the work.
Data was collected from 51 districts in the country and it was analysed that in Uganda, the status of working children is not well documented. However, in the 1991 population and housing census enumerated about 3.3 million children in 10-17 years of age. This number certainly increased during the last decade because of the natural growth related to the high fertility. According to the 1997 pilot labour survey, more than 140,000 children aged 7-17 years were estimated to be employed while more than 100,000 other were not working.
Some of the reasons given in this report fro children's engagement into child labour by the time were due to orphanage, the relationship between the child and the household head and to their surprise most of them lived with their parents but involved in child labour.
Another reason included limited funds to support them both at home and school.
The report recommended that since poverty is part of the reasons why children engage in child labour, then national poverty programmes and budgets should be mainstreamed to reduce child labour.
That ILO-IPEC continues to support efforts to target the elimination of child labour in Uganda and to continue supporting those initiatives that increase the knowledge in child labour.
The ministry of gender, labour and social development should be facilitated to make such laws known to those who violate them out of ignorance and to enforce the provision of relevant laws.
Another study was conducted by Mutafungwa Elizabeth, "Child labour in Uganda with emphasis on commercial agriculture as an avenue for the worst forms of child labour".
Her main objective was to obtain a broad understanding of child labour in relation to children engaged in commercial agriculture as child labourers and used questionnaires as one of the means of collecting data from the respondents.
There were also interviews carried out using a structured interview guide not leaving behind observations as a key method of seeing what is on ground.
She carried out the study in Lugazi sugar corporation limited and analysed data in a descriptive way and her percentages were calculated using the following formula (N/ 120) x 100 with N meaning the number of respondents. With the help of her findings, Mutafungwa was able to analyse that most of the respondents were males 74%, as compared to female 26% and that most of them were in the age bracket of 11-15 years 70%, than the 16-18 years 30%.
She stated that some of them did not go to school completely 5%, while 3% were of the view that they could only go to school if they had funds. 2% had no intention to go to school at all hence preferred work. 8% joined primary school but 20% dropped out of school due to lack of school funds while others combined school and work.
She analysed that some of the reasons why children involved in child labour included death of parents, poverty, lack of education and others.
She recommended that;
Designing a national plan of action against child labour is needed.
There is need for availability and accessibility of adequate and reliable research so that information about child labour is accessed world wide.
Government should go ahead to put ways of reducing poverty in the country so that even the poor can access necessities including the right to education.
2.4 Common forms of child labour in Uganda
Domestic labour
This includes work such as looking after small children, doing household chores, fetching water, tilling the land, looking after animals or chopping wood which is considered to be a farm training and mentoring for future challenges. Such children are denied formal education and are exploited by the employees.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children
The causes of this phenomenon are varied. Some children are driven into commercial sexual activity by circumstances beyond their control, while others are attracted into it by the allure of a good life for example, children whose circumstances are good but find themselves succumbing to pressure to join prostitution.
Smuggling and other forms of cross border trade
Uganda experiences smuggling due to tendency by traders to avoid taxes and other legal mechanisms of trade. Children have been identified as safe conduits of merchandise at cross borders.
Street children
Increasingly, Uganda is experiencing the phenomenon of boys, girls and adolescents who have no home or those who run away from home to survive on the streets. These are commonly referred to as “street children”.
Construction sector
Children engage in physical chores such as working as porters at construction sites, crushing stones at quarries or in sand mines.
Informal sector
Children drop out of school to go and provide casual labour in the informal sector like on the streets, shops, marketers for example off loading trucks or helping shoppers to deliver items into their cars.
Fishing
The fishing industry engages child laborers in many ways. There are those girls, boys and adolescents who are directly involved in catching fish from the lakes and rivers, then there are those engaged in various forms of fish processing. For example smoking the fish and there are those who sell in markets and on road sides.
Mining
Children are involved in mining such as salt mining, gold mining without going to school.
Child soldiers: Finally, another worst form of child labour is that one targeting children to recruit into rebellions against government. Some are forcefully abducted into rebel ranks, while others are lured by the promise of a better life in future.
2.5 Gender disparities in child labour
Both girls and boys are affected by child labour. However girls have special vulnerabilities. Gender inequalities and culture attitudes that tend to give preference to boys education over girls relegate them to limited opportunities of life. The girls tend to revolve around the home domestic works such as child care and looking after the sick. This kind of work is time consuming and often interferes with education. This in turn prevents girls from acquiring knowledge and skills for decent and productive work as a result many accept any kind of job that becomes available to them.
Early marriage attached to bride wealth in form of cattle remains a common feature among several communities in Uganda. Some girls are forced to join marriage at the age of 12-17 years because of community expectations of new brides depriving the girl of their choices hence creating a fertile ground for their exploitation and child labour.
The patterns off child labour are some what different for bys. A child labour study conducted by Mwaka and Tumushabe, 1996 discovered that among pastoral communities in the northern parts of the country boys have to be initiated into the art of cattle keeping. As a result boys do not go to school or they may be removed from school. In the other parts of the country however boys tend to enter petty jobs such as wheel barrow pushing, selling food, vending and luggage carrying. Boys are also commonly found in the more visible activities such as fishing, crushing stones, construction and making bricks.
2.6 Factors that drive girls and boys into child labour
There are various reasons why children in Uganda take up employment includi
- The HIV/AIDS pandemic
Uganda is still struggling to bring the HIV /AIDS epidemic under control. Given that people are HIV positive this has resulted into many children being orphaned by AIDS. Thus children are forced to look for survival, development, protection or even participation. This is done in order to look after the sick relatives, they themselves and surviving siblings. Studies show that many child laborers are at risk of catching AIDS through sexual abuse and exploitation hence causing a vicious cycle of AIDS.
- Poverty
This at family or household and community levels contributes to child labour. Individual and household poverty limits the choices children have in life.
- Weak public education sector
Despite efforts to improve access to education and retention in school, the education systems are not as attractive as they were in the past independence era, leading to many children to opt for child labour instead of going to school.
- Family expectations and tradition
People believe in maintaining the things that have always been done for generations. Entrenched traditions account for the widespread gender biased child labour experienced in Uganda.
- Limited alternatives for the children
Marginalized children can not exercise choices. In related cases no child would normally choose to engage in degrading or dehumanizing labour instead of schooling. HIV /AIDS contribute to the overwhelming sense of marginalization and denial thereby driving girls and boys into child labour.
- Break down of the extended family systems
This has reduced the protection that this system offered to children, thus rendering orphaned boys and girls as well as those affected by HIV / AIDS more vulnerable.
- Specialized demand for child labour
Some sectors prefer to engage child labourers for various reasons. Children may be preferred for their neatness in handling plants or their endurance in crushing stones.
- Poor or weak legal frame work
As it has been noted child labour is only being recognized belatedly as a form of social "cancer" that needs to be addressed systematically.
2.7 Consequences and damaging effects of child labour
Child labour/abuse has significant consequences on children’s well being including;
- Impact on education
Due to participation of children in disabling activities, it leads to loss or undermining of their access to basic education and other opportunities. Child laborers are denied the opportunities to develop fundamental skills and their full potential to prepare for the numerous alternatives that exist in life (NUPAK, 2003).
- Child growth and development
The problem is physical, psychological and emotional damage. Such effects of hazardous work can affect children’s psychology and emotional development. The out comes can be loss of limbs or health of the children. It may also be noted that some of the effects on the health of children are life threatening and they may not show until after along time. Of the working children, 39% employed in rice, 54% in tobacco, 48% in coffee and 40 % in tree enterprises have experienced physical injuries while at work. 17 % of the working children are exposed to chemical hazards especially in tobacco enterprise. Other hazards faced by child workers include dew and cold in the mornings, dirty drinking water from rice fields and stress.
- Vicious cycle of poverty
This is an effect in the family and the entire community. Without education such children miss out on knowledge and skills that are required for better and rewarding jobs. Child labour undermines the potential source of social protection of families and communities by breeding generations of poor people. Other effects include damage to the enterprise growth and investment (global market), loss of human resource potential and economic viability (ILO-IPEC, 2007).
2.8 Interventions (efforts to eliminate it)
A number of initiatives have been taken by government, NGOs and other partners in the area of legislation.
Legislative measures
Government has acceded to several international and regional treaties including the ILO convention No.182 on the worst forms of child labour (1999), the Unconventional on the rights of the child, the UN protocol to use of children and the OAU charter on the rights of the child.
The national constitution (1995) article 34 (4) provides for protection of children from performing work that is likely to be hazardous or injures their development. The same principle i.e. expressed in children’s statute 1996 in part 2 section 9. The labour legislation and in particular, the child labour provision have been the key ILO convention on child labour
In addition to the above, a number of policies that impact on child labour have been formulated including the universal primary Education (UPE) so as to increase access to education and decentralization policy meant to provide opportunities to address child labour at local level.
Through poverty eradication plan (PEAP) government aims at eradicating poverty particularly among the rural population. In collaboration with other partners, a number of practical measures are being implemented by government. To mention, are the establishment of a multi-sectoral national steering committee on child labour, the creation of a child unit in the ministry of Gender, Labour and /social Development, awareness raising activities, withdrawal and provision of direct support service to the child laborers by the social partners and NGOs.
2.9 The participation of children in the fight against child labour
Basic education
In many of its current programs in the united stated, Asia and Africa, world education takes lessons learned informal and out of school education programs and applies them to the formal education activities to improve the quality and relevance of education. Learning is taking place outside the traditional classroom (Baiden, 2006).
Societies in transition: A staggering number of local communities in Africa are struggling in the devastating effects of social, political and economical hardships. World education’s grass roots have been an effective method for helping communities transition into more functional and independent societies. Instead of viewing the societal structure from top to down, we strengthen local no governmental organizational and institutions that encourage people to actively participate in civic initiatives (Baiden, 2006).
Sustainable agriculture: World education promotes sustainable agriculture and natural resource management within rural family communities by providing training and technical support to farmers. World educations approach is to train farmers on how to conduct their own ecological experiments so that they may develop appropriate methods to increase productivity in their farming system while simultaneously environmental degradation and health risks (Baiden, 2006).
2.10 Summary of literature review
Though the prospects for addressing child labour are brighter than before, there is no comprehensive policy on child labour to enable a multi and integrated approach security the support of the concerned government agencies, NGOs and other partners. In addition, there are still significant gaps in the areas of research, harmonization of legislation and enforcement, coordination and capacity building of the factors.
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research methodology
3.1 Introduction
This section provides a full description of the survey methodology and it also shows an outline of the tools, techniques and methods of data analyses which were consulted to establish a contact and explain the needs to collect and use information from them. The local houses were visited with basic interest on children aged 5-17 years because information from them was of basic interest.
3.2 Research design
The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. This is because it involved a population of at least 50 interviewees, the reason for using both qualitative and quantitative methods is because they generated concrete information after comparison of data that was collected and analysed.
3.3 Research target groups
- Children involved in domestic work.
- The ray of young working children.
3.4 Data collection
These involved the instruments that were used to generate the necessary data that was needed and these included;
- Questionnaires
They were used as the main instruments in data collection and they were both closed and open interview schedules. This is because the majority of the respondents especially in the households are expected to be illiterate.
- Observations
This was achieved by seeing what was on ground and then it was recorded.
A narrative analysis method was used where information was got and presented. Most of the data was analysed quantitatively and presented thematically following the chronology of the research objectives and also Microsoft word was used in presenting and editing the field findings.
3.6 Ethical consideration
The questions and interviews were formulated in a way that they were not offensive and not too personal so as not to leave the people in the act more emotionally broken than they were before.
3.7 Limitations of the study
There were some in cooperation by some of the respondents who did not want to answer any questions yet they were the ideal respondents. There were also problems of academic funds faced during the study for instance acquiring some materials that were used in the study.
Some places were inaccessible due to poor infrastructure.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results and discussions of the research findings.
4.1 Introduction
This chapter indicates the results, discussions, analysis as well as data interpretation that was collected from the field. The results were based on field data which was collected through the use of questionnaires and some observations. The data in this chapter is presented thematically basing on the objectives of the study and after which some other emerging information in line with the study was also presented so as to enrich the scope of the problem at hand.
This research analysis was carried out basing on a total of 50 respondents in the sub county where by the 50 respondents were administered questionnaires which were to be used to determine the causes of child labour in Nangabo sub county, Wakiso district.
4.2 Back ground of the study
The data in this section includes the causes, extent and nature of child labour terms and conditions of work carried out by children age ranges, a few effects and suggested ways by these children to the community and government at large. The age statistics was manipulated in order to establish whether demographic characteristics have an influence on the research findings.
4.3 Presented/possible/some of the causes of child labour.
4.3.1 Low education
As found out, most of the children did attend school to a very low level that is though they attended their highest level was primary level with 30 children out of 50 which primary can not help at all / save them because at this level one can only write his name with out any skill. This was followed by the secondary children who were 13 and only finished/ according to today’s world and these task up 28.3% followed by 3 children who did only their pre-primary equal 5.5% and in my view I saw this as one of the causes of child labour since these children were left with no option and without help hence their involving in child labour.
This too can still be illustrated by the relationship between people who attend school and those who did not with those who carried out work.
Chart.1: showing the relationship of people who attended school and those who did not with those who carried out work to illustrate the causes of child labour.
Table.3: showing the relationship of people who attended school and those who did not with those who carried out work to illustrate the causes of child labour.
QN7_IF_YES
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| pre-primary | 3 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | |
| primary | 30 | 60.0 | 65.2 | 71.7 | |
| secondary | 13 | 26.0 | 28.3 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 46 | 92.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 4 | 8.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
Yes the results show many educated people who carried out the work. However, this number represents more people in primary and few who entered and did a bit of secondary and this still stress the fact of so many people carrying out child labour. There were only 5 people who did not carry out the act with only 4 children who did not attend school at all but at least carried other work giving a total of 48 children who did both attend school and carry out different kinds of work leading to 96%.
4.3.2 Orphanage
Another reason for child labour included orphanage. This is because the results showed that 30 children did not have parents due to reasons of death. This in turn left them with no care and no relatives to cater for them in terms of clothing, housing, food and school fees which forced them into carrying out heavy work loads for their survival. These constituted a percentage of 60 children with most of them living with only one parent or none. Other reasons for not staying with both their parents included divorce of the parents and far away jobs or sickness. While only 20 children that is 40% has their parents alive however, some of them got involved in child labour without their parents’ knowledge or because their parents could not afford school fees and so they decided that they started work for survival.
Evidence can be drawn from the table below when children who has their parents and those who did not have them are compared with those who carried out child labour.
Table.4: showing orphanage
QN3_ARE_PA
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| Yes | 20 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 40.0 | |
| No | 30 | 60.0 | 60.0 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 50 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |
From the above results, it can be noted that 30 children did not have parents or had only one and they did carry out work while only 13 children had parents though they carried out child labour for survival and only 5 did not do one kind of work making a total of 48 children with a percentage of 96% leaving 2 who did not answer the question.
4.3.3. Other reasons include the following as illustrated in the table and pie chart below.
Table.5: showing reasons for involving in any kind of work that can harm a child health
Reasons for Working
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| To pay outstanding debt | 2 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
| failed at school | 1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 6.3 | |
| can not afford schooling | 2 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 10.4 | |
| To supplement household income | 15 | 30.0 | 31.3 | 41.7 | |
| To buy personal effects | 22 | 44.0 | 45.8 | 87.5 | |
| Others | 6 | 12.0 | 12.5 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 48 | 96.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 2 | 4.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
This was followed by children who carried out work in order to supplement their household income mostly to their relatives and their parents who could not afford working. This included 15 children with a percentage of 31.3%.
Children with other reasons followed who were 6 taking up 20%. Such other reasons for their child laboring included being forced by both their parents and relatives.
This was followed by children who wanted to pay outstanding debts on them or their families which coincided with children who could not afford schooling that is 2 equaling 4.2 %.
And lastly, people who have failed at school followed who looked to have no option by that time but instead to join child labour.
Chart.2: representing other reasons.
4.3.4 poverty as a cause of child labour
When interviewed, most of the children showed that their relatives and head of household do work. However, the kind of work varies.
Table.6: showing people who were working
QN9A_DOES_
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| Yes | 36 | 72.0 | 72.0 | 72.0 | |
| No | 14 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 50 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |
From the table household heads who work take up 72% as followed by those who do not work which is 28%. Of the 50 children and people interviewed they revealed that their households do carry out business, that is small businesses which involves stalls, running kiosks, small shops which in real sense do contribute very little to the incomes of those families and s the heads do fail to provide for their houses essentially this is 37.8%.
This is followed by people carrying out casual labour including the unskilled laborers who would do any kind of work whether paying highly or very less for their output. It is 32.4%.
Next to them, were the farmers but this category of farmers included mostly the poor farmers who use poor farming methods as well as poor/ non resistant seeds to either climate or the soils and I think we still press these kind of people among the poverty stricken people and due to the fact that they are poor, it becomes difficult for such family heads to provide appropriate necessities for their children hence leaving no option for these children but to join child labour.
Among the people who were working there were public servants and market venders who constitute a very small percentage. That is 2 an 3 and this is not guarantee that many people are poor. This is illustrated as below
Graph.1: showing household heads that were working / doing different kinds of work.
Among the interviewed children who said that their household head were not working revealed various ways how they earn their income / source of income. It is shown as below
Table.7: showing the source of income
source of income
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| From relatives | 2 | 4.0 | 14.3 | 14.3 | |
| Minor sales | 6 | 12.0 | 42.9 | 57.1 | |
| Peasant | 6 | 12.0 | 42.9 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 14 | 28.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 36 | 72.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
It is seen that most of those who did not have any kind of work were peasants who coincided with those who got their income from minor sells range from say animals like hens, cocks and (50-100) kg of coffee and this tends to be too little to satisfy a big family of more than 7 people. Those who get income from their relatives were only 2 equivalents to 14.3% and when combined together, they all represent poverty among people whose some of the consequences may be child labour.
4.4 The extent of child labour
As it was mentioned before, that it is not easy to establish the extent of child labour, a few findings were written down and they were illustrated as below.
Table.8: showing the extent of child labour
Extent of Child Labor
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| Yes | 42 | 84.0 | 87.5 | 87.5 | |
| No | 5 | 10.0 | 10.4 | 97.9 | |
| missing | 1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 48 | 96.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 2 | 4.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
From the above table, we can see that children who got involved in the act of child labour take up the biggest percentage( that is 87.5%) as those who did not do it are just 10.4%. this shows that really child labour does exist in the country for reasons we are about to establish. This can also be seen from the pie chart below.
Chart.3: showing the extent of child labour.
4.5 Nature/categories/forms of child labour
Other findings show that there are various kinds of child labour in the country. These include, children in agriculture, in manufacturing and fishing, commercial sexual exploitation of children, street children, construction sector to mention but a few.
However, since this study was limited to a small area, only a few of the categories were found out. This can be shown from the table below.
Table.9: showing the nature of child labour
Nature of Child Labor
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| sales service | 6 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | |
| unskilled manual | 4 | 8.0 | 9.3 | 23.3 | |
| household/domestic | 23 | 46.0 | 53.5 | 76.7 | |
| crop farming | 4 | 8.0 | 9.3 | 86.0 | |
| livestock rearing | 2 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 90.7 | |
| manufacturing | 4 | 8.0 | 9.3 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 43 | 86.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 7 | 14.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
From the above table, it is true that children mostly girls get involved in household/domestic kind of child labour taking up the biggest percentage that is 53.5% followed by children working in the informal sector providing sales service and unskilled manual and this coincides with two other forms of work for example, crop farming and in quarrying taking up 9.3% and manufacturing takes up the last percentage of 4.7%. This can also be represents on the graphs below.
Graph.2: showing the nature of child labour.
4.6 The terms and conditions of work carried out by child labourers
Really children under child labour are over exploited because their terms and conditions are not well defined. Therefore, their employees usually take advantage of this to pay these people very little ranging from 1,000 – 30,000 to a few of them who may be relatives to such employees.
Table.10: showing the terms and conditions
Terms and Conditions
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| No terms and conditions | 8 | 16.0 | 19.0 | 19.0 | |
| Waking up early | 10 | 20.0 | 23.8 | 42.9 | |
| working till late | 4 | 8.0 | 9.5 | 52.4 | |
| No provided food | 3 | 6.0 | 7.1 | 59.5 | |
| Paid according to work | 5 | 10.0 | 11.9 | 71.4 | |
| Paid after work | 9 | 18.0 | 21.4 | 92.9 | |
| Regular attendance | 3 | 6.0 | 7.1 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 42 | 84.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 8 | 16.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
Findings showed that waking up so early for these children is the order of the day so as to be paid or please their employees. This takes up 23.8%. However, it affects these children because they are exposed to colds and dew since most of them have to move long distances to carry out their obligations.
This is followed by being paid after work and according to the work done taking upp 21.4% and 11.9% respectively. This shows that however much a child may need help of money through working but due to the fact that one is supposes to be paid after work, it means that if one is lazy, then he/she will not achieve his/her demands.
Other terms and conditions include regular attendance whether sick or not, working till so late and some times with food after work or no food where one had to provide him/her self food and very little pay it tends to be another problem.
Graph.3: showing terms and conditions
4.7 The relationship between children in different age groups and those children who carried out some work.
The results show that children start work which is not suitable for them as early as 5 years and they all do so for different reasons.
Table.11: showing the relationship between age and the act of carrying out work
Age
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| 5-9 | 2 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | |
| 10-13 | 10 | 20.0 | 20.0 | 24.0 | |
| 14-17 | 38 | 76.0 | 76.0 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 50 | 100.0 | 100.0 | |
As the results are drawn from the table, it was found that the biggest percentage of children who carried out child labour is in the category of 14-17 years. However much these children may look big, the fact that they are not yet 18 years makes them immature hence their exploitation and these group only four children revealed that did not carry out any kind of work.
This was followed by children in the age group of 10 – 13 years and those who carried out the work included on 9 while only 1 child did not do any work and lastly was 2 children who involved themselves in work where as there were no children who did not do any kind of work.
This is also evidence that despite the small area operated on there were many children carrying out child labour as early as 5 years.
This represents 48 people who attempted the questions leading us to 96% of the children doing child labour under those different age categories.
4.8 Preference between school and continue work.
Of the children who were interviewed, 38 which is 82.6% replied that they preferred going back to school or starting just like other people who in well off families and getting good jobs. There were only 8 children who preferred to continue with their work because for them they do not think of their family members, community or government can help them. This was evidenced from the data below.
Table.12: showing preference between school and continue to work
QN24_WHAT_
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| Continue with work | 8 | 16.0 | 17.4 | 17.4 | |
| Go back to school | 38 | 76.0 | 82.6 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 46 | 92.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 4 | 8.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
Graph.4: showing preference between school and continue to work
4.9 Some of the effects faced by children who involve themselves in child labour.
First and foremost, people were affected out weighted those which were not affected at all or being affected slightly and using the observation method, I was able to see/ observe that some of these children had wounds on their different body parts, others had lost their fingers and some of their toes. Others said they were once raped may be by their bosses on their way back to their homes for those who were not provided places to stay from their work places.
Asked children said they had seen their fellow friends who are children being mistreated in terms of beating, starving them, being treated with harsh conditions, for example no food before finishing a given job and so on. That others acquire there diseases in search for better places to work and staying in from their harsh employees such diseases include, ……………………….
And as a whole, most of them stay uneducated and so increased illiterates in the country hence a big problem.
4.10 Mechanisms for societal training about children’s rights which include the right to education and health.
This was divided into two that is measures to the community and government.
Suggested measure to the community
Most of he children proposed that the community can help in the following ways.
Table.13: showing the measures by the community.
Measures by the community
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| Ask for schools | 14 | 28.0 | 41.2 | 41.2 | |
| Reduced fees | 3 | 6.0 | 8.8 | 50.0 | |
| Improved infrastructure | 2 | 4.0 | 5.9 | 55.9 | |
| I do not know | 7 | 14.0 | 20.6 | 76.5 | |
| Expect nothing | 5 | 10.0 | 14.7 | 91.2 | |
| Laws | 3 | 6.0 | 8.8 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 34 | 68.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 16 | 32.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
Results show that most of the children proposed that the community can help by aspiring for schools from the government with low dues to help children from poor families to also go to school since most of them can not afford school due o limited fees and this takes up 28%.
Others suggested that the communities also have to make sure that their societies have good infrastructure that is roads mostly to avoid bushy small paths which encourage crimes like abduction of children for commercial exploitation and rape.
However, most of them believe that their communities can not help since most of the people are poor and uneducated so they can not think of helping the children in the community while others do not know how the community can help.
Graph.5: representation of the community measures.
Suggested measures to the government
These include suggested measures that the government can take on provided by the children under child labour.
Table.14: showing measures by the government
Measures by government
| | | Frequency | Percent | Valid Percent | Cumulative Percent |
| Valid | |||||
| provide scholarships | 9 | 18.0 | 22.0 | 22.0 | |
| regulations | 12 | 24.0 | 29.3 | 51.2 | |
| provide good schools | 13 | 26.0 | 31.7 | 82.9 | |
| provide jobs to the parents | 7 | 14.0 | 17.1 | 100.0 | |
| Total | 41 | 82.0 | 100.0 | | |
| Missing | |||||
| System | 9 | 18.0 | | | |
| Total | |||||
| | 50 | 100.0 | | |
From the table, results show that mostly good schools re in the city, since most of the children were suggesting that the government can help them by providing them with good schools that can accommodate them both poor and unpoor ones and this takes up 31.7%. This is followed by government putting laws and these include those one prohibiting employees from employing children in their businesses. They may also include laws to punish parents who just abandon their children while others refuse to pay for them fees and others including them in their work for unpaid labour and this takes up 29.3.
Others suggested that government can help them by providing them scholarships just like in higher institutions and this free education can help a lot in preventing child labour hence becoming responsible in the future while other children proposed that at least to some extent government should come up to help in providing jobs or advising parents on how to create their own jobs so that they can generate income in order to take their children to school saving them from child labour.
Graph.6: showing suggested ways to government.
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Recommendations and conclusions
5.1 Introduction
This study was carried out in Nangabo Sub County, Wakiso district. With the major objective to analyse the causes of child labour. The specific objectives included investigating the terms and conditions of child workers, determining the nature and extent of child labour to mention but a few.
The study data was collected on social and demographic factors of the children, descriptive data was carried out using tables, frequencies and percentages using the SPSS package. The summary of the results are presented in this chapter.
5.2 Summary
Of the children interviewed, most of them were found to be orphans, however some of them did not want to reveal their problems which made it difficult to account for some of the causes to child labour.
Some of them were in the age group of 5 -9 years which shows that children start child labour as early as 5 years. Most of them attended school but at a very low level and these children revealed most of the hardship they were going through is all to be blamed on their careless parents, community and the government at large.
5.3 conclusions
It is true that child labour does exist in the country and widely so reading everyday.
The reasons why it occurs are mostly due to death of parents to a big extent, followed by poverty and other reasons like children being dismissed from school
From the results and discussions, the following conclusion can be drawn;
Child labour is really a big problem to the children at large since it is not decreasing but instead increasing due to the fact drawn from children who were interviewed and agreed to have been involved in the act.
This leaves concern to the whole country because young ones are the future of our tomorrow.
5.4 Recommendations
Though the government has tried ways of reducing child labour,
There is still need for the government to lobby for funds from other developed countries and with very few cases of child labour securing in them in order to invest in this phenomenon so that, these children and their families are at least provided with jobs to cater for their school fees and other needs.
The government should put various laws restricting children into child labour.
Sensitization of all the community members including children who are not involved in child labour to just look on the children in their communities involve in the act, but instead report such cases to the concerned so that it is eliminated/prevented immediately.
There is also still need for more schools for fewer dues so that each child is given the right to education and this can be used as a tool to fighting child labour. Despite all the above, government needs to invest money in hospitals so that at least each community owns a health centre at hand, these can be used to heal those who have been injured due to child labour or for proper health of the children so that they do not fail going to school due to any sickness which in turn may lead to child labour.
Lastly but not list, I think child labour is a concern for the whole country and so every one has a right to stop it therefore lets join hands together for the good of our future.
