The regulation of child labour, or economic sanctions and trade boycotts against countries where child labour is prevalent, may lead to more children working in worse conditions, according to a new study.
The study in Economic Affairs* by Krisztina Kis-Katos and Günther G. Schulze shows that while many developing countries have statutory limits on the age at which children can be employed, these age limits are rarely enforced or observed. In Nepal, for example, the minimum age of employment is 14 years, but 42% of those aged 10-14 participate in the labour market. Similarly, in Burundi the minimum age of employment is 16 years, but 48.5% of children aged between 10 and 14 work.
There is also evidence that where avenues to ‘legitimate&#