Young Lives Report Now Available: “Responding to Children’s Work”

We are delighted to announce the publication of Responding to children’s work: Evidence from the Young Lives study in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam, the latest in our summative series drawing on our research from the past 15 years.

The report explores Young Lives evidence (based on qualitative and quantitative data) on how children spend their time, at school, work, rest and play, so drawing attention to the reasons why children work and what is at stake for them and their families.

In this way, authors Virginia Morrow and Jo Boyden capture a picture of the changing nature of work during childhood. While highlighting potential risks of work, they also indicate the benefits, considering children within their working households and communities, and focusing on the fundamental relationship between work and school education.

In responding to children’s work, the report maps principles for child-sensitive policy and programming that will help minimise the risk of burdensome work for children, while maximising children’s wellbeing – always acting in their best interests:

1. Focus on the most harmful work
2. Child labour legislation needs to be implemented sensitively
3. Address family poverty
4. Help children who work to access schooling that is fit for purpose
5. Address care work in the home

The report is available here. Related materials that may be of interest include this blog on children juggling school and work in Ethiopia, our data visualizations on skills and work, and updates across our social media channels with #YLChildWork, where we will be sharing infographics related to children’s work over the coming weeks.