Conflicts drive more child labours in Myanmar
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Hsu / Pearl (NP News) - July 2
Child labour is on the rise due to internal armed conflicts and socio-economic struggles, a political analyst spoke to The NP News.
Currently, more child labourers are found in some workplaces across major cities, including Yangon resulting from internal armed conflicts, natural disasters, and socio-economic hardships.
"We’re seeing more child laborers now than before. Due to armed conflicts, families are fleeing to conflict-free urban areas, bringing many children with them. With this sudden population increase, there’s a greater need to earn a living, forcing many people into work. Another factor is that, after the recent major earthquake—some children, regardless of whether they’re of legal working age or not— had to work to help their families recover economically. Indeed, it’s a complex issue stemming from multiple factors," the source explained to The NP News.
If children are deprived of education in their early years and engaged into harsh, age-inappropriate labour, they may have a poor quality of life, increasing the risk of falling into harmful life paths.
Furthermore, a country’s economic, social, and educational development is closely linked to the well-being of its children. Globally, the prevalence of child labor is often rooted in poverty.
"The situation is multifactorial, so we are witnessing more child labourers. The key question now is whether there is the will and readiness since addressing child labor effectively requires significant effort. Even if action is taken, it will take time and close monitoring. It might be easier to handle the situation effectively when a newly elected government takes office after election. Right now, SAC is focused on critical aspects of the general election process, so while they may address the issue, immediate, impactful solutions seem unlikely," the analyst added.
Myanmar is a signatory to the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Minimum Age Convention (No. 138). According to ILO estimates, in 2024, there were approximately 1.13 million child labourers nationwide, with over 600,000 engaged in hazardous work conditions.