Agricultural sub-sector child labour surveys: Children working in the cultivation and processing of inland fishing stocks, sugarcane, and beans and pulses in Myanmar

The findings reveal that child labour is prevalent across all three sub-sectors, with 63% of children in the surveyed areas engaged in related economic activities. Many children work in hazardous conditions, including long hours, exposure to extreme weather, dangerous tools, and physically demanding labour. The study highlights a strong correlation between household debt and child labour, where financial struggles force families to rely on children’s earnings. Additionally, child labour significantly interferes with education, with many children dropping out or attending school irregularly due to work commitments. The report also notes gender-based labour division, where boys and girls perform different types of agricultural work, though both are exposed to significant risks.

To address these issues, the report recommends multi-faceted interventions. These include reducing household debt through financial aid and microfinance initiatives, expanding vocational training and education access, and implementing occupational safety programs. It also calls for stronger policy enforcement, public awareness campaigns, and mechanisms to report and address child labour cases. The report underscores the need for a collaborative effort among the government, private sector, and civil society to eliminate child labour and protect children’s rights in Myanmar’s agricultural sector.