Country profile BGD
Context
Context
| Year | Age group | Proportion | Gender | Indicator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5-17 | 8.7 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2019 | 5-17 | 3 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2019 | 5-17 | 5.9 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2019 | 5-17 | 8.8 | Male | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2019 | 5-17 | 4.6 | Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
| 2019 | 5-17 | 6.8 | Male & Female | Proportion of children engaged in economic activity and household chores, by sex and age (%) | Source |
National Legal Framework
National Legal Framework
| Provision | Legislation date | Convention | Legislation info | sources | Value | sort_order | Provision description | Legislation description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs, prohibited? | 2014-03-24 | C182 | Children’s Act - Section 79 | [{"link_name":"Children\u2019s Act","source_link":"https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/sites/unicef.org.bangladesh/files/2018-07/Children%20Act%202013%20English.pdf"}] | Yes | 11 | C182 prohibits the use, procuring or offering of children for illicit activities in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs. | Section 79 of The Children’s Act prohibits using a child for illegal and banned activities and committing terrorist activity. |
| Is the use, procuring or offering of a child for the purpose of prostitution and for production of pornography prohibited? | 2014-03-24 ; 2013-06-20 ; 2012-03-08 | C182 | Penal Code - Sections 366A, 372, and 373 ; Children’s Act - Sections 78 and 80 ; Pornography Control Act - Sections 48, 49, 51 and 52 | [{"link_name":"-Penal Code","source_link":"http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-11/section-3228.html"},{"link_name":"-Children\u2019s Act","source_link":"https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/BGD215456.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Pornography Control Act","source_link":"https://legislativediv.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/legislativediv.portal.gov.bd/page/c0e8021e_5e8f_4ede_9050_f2faf351c2ad/20.%20Pornography%20Translation.pdf"}] | Yes | 10 | C182 prohibits the use of a child under the age of 18 for prostitution, regardless of the child's consent. The use, procuring or offering of any person under the age of 18 for commercial sexual exploitation constitutes a worst form of child labour, even if prostitution is a legalised. In regard to the prohibition of child pornography, States need to make sure that national legislation addresses the involvement of a child in the production of pornographic materials, including non-recorded performances. | Sections 366A, 372, and 373 of the Penal Code; Sections 78 and 80 of the Children’s Act; Sections 2 and 8 of the Pornography Control Act (48, 49, 51, 52) all deal with the prohibition of the use, procuring, or offering a child for the purpose of prostitution. |
| Is forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict prohibited? | N/A | C182 | N/A | [{"link_name":"N/A","source_link":"N/A"}] | N/A | 9 | C182 defines forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18 for use in armed conflict as a worst form of child labour. Nevertheless, C182 only prohibits the forced or compulsory recruitment of children under 18, and does not cover the voluntary recruitment of children under 18. | The country has no circonscription. |
| Is the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation prohibited? | 2012-02-20 | C182 | Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act - Sections 3(1)(a)(b)(c), 3(2) and 6(1)(2) | [{"link_name":"Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act","source_link":"https://bdlaws-minlaw-gov-bd.translate.goog/act-1086/section-41708.html?_x_tr_sl=bn&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc&_x_tr_sch=http"}] | Yes | 8 | C182 defines all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour as worst forms of child labour. | The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012 (Act No. 3 of 2012), Chapter One, Section 3(1)(a)(b)(c) and (2), defines human trafficking and Chapter Two, Section 6(1)(2), prohibits and punishes the sale and trafficking of children for sexual and labour exploitation. |
| List of hazardous activities prohibited for children | 2006-10-11 ; 2013-03-13 | C138 & C182 | Bangladesh Labour Act - Sections 34 and 35 ; Hazardous work list | [{"link_name":"-Bangladesh Labour Act","source_link":"https://mccibd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bangladesh-Labour-Act-2006_English-Upto-2018.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Hazardous work list","source_link":"https://www.ilo.org/resource/hazardous-work-list-bangladesh"}] | Yes | 7 | C138 and C182 require the national determination of a list of hazardous work prohibited for children under 18 years of age. The competent authorities should consult with workers' and employers' organizations to determine what types of employment or work are considered to be hazardous. Such a list shall be periodically examined and revised as necessary. | Section 34 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 prohibits the employment of adolescents (under 18) in certain occupations and processes deemed hazardous. It states that no child shall be employed or permitted to work in any establishment or in any occupation mentioned in a schedule to the Act, which includes hazardous occupations and processes. Section 35 provides for the determination and declaration of hazardous occupations and processes. It empowers the government to specify, by notification in the official gazette, the hazardous occupations and processes in which employment of children is prohibited. A government order issued on 13/03/2013 identifies 38 processes/activities hazardous for children. In 2012, the Tripartite Coordinating Committee had recommended 36 processes/activities, but later the Ministry of Labour and Employment revised it to include two additional sectors based on comments received from various ministries. |
| Minimum age for hazardous work | 2006-10-11 ; 2013-06-20 | C138 & C182 | Bangladesh Labour Act - Section 34 ; Children’s Act - Section 1(17) | [{"link_name":"-Bangladesh Labour Act","source_link":"https://mccibd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bangladesh-Labour-Act-2006_English-Upto-2018.pdf"},{"link_name":"-Children's Act","source_link":"https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/sites/unicef.org.bangladesh/files/2018-07/Children%20Act%202013%20English.pdf"}] | 18 | 6 | C138 and C182 set 18 as the minimum age for hazardous work, which is defined as work that, due to its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to jeopardize children’s health, safety or morals. C138 and C182 allow countries to permit hazardous work exceptionally as from 16, provided that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that they have received adequate specific instruction or training. | Section 34 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 prohibits the employment of adolescents (under 18) in certain occupations and processes deemed hazardous. The Children’s Act, 2013 (Act No. 24 of 2013), Chapter 1, Section 1(17), changes the legal definition of a child from being a person under the age of 14 to one under the age of 18. It criminalises any kind of cruelty inflicted on children while they are working in both the formal and informal sectors. |
| Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship | 2006-10-11 | C138 | Bangladesh Labour Act - Section 275(C) | [{"link_name":"Bangladesh Labour Act","source_link":"https://mccibd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bangladesh-Labour-Act-2006_English-Upto-2018.pdf"}] | No | 5 | C138 does not apply to work done in school for general, vocational or technical education or in training institutions or work done by children at least 14 years of age in undertakings, where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority. Such work must be an integral part of: (i) a course of education or training for which a school or training institution is primarily responsible; (ii) a programme of training mainly or entirely in an undertaking, which programme has been approved by the competent authority; or (iii) a programme of guidance or orientation designed to facilitate the choice of an occupation or of a line of training. | According to the Bangladesh Labour Act (2006), Section 275(C) apprenticeship "means a system of training in which an employer undertakes to employ a person and to train him or have him trained systematically in an apprenticeable trade for a period specified in advance and during which the apprentice is bound to work in the employer’s service". However, there is no minimum age set for admission to apprenticeship. |
| Is the minimum age for admission to work not less than the age for completion of compulsory schooling? | 1991-01-01 | C138 | Bangladesh Primary Education (Compulsory) Act, 1990 - Section 3 | [{"link_name":"Bangladesh Primary Education (Compulsory) Act, 1990","source_link":"https://file-chittagong.portal.gov.bd/files/deo.daudkandi.comilla.gov.bd/files/0104ad99_2047_11e7_8f57_286ed488c766/Compulsory%20Pry%20Edu%20Act%201990_0.pdf"}] | N/A | 4 | C138 requires that the minimum age for admission to work shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years. | The Bangladesh Primary Education (Compulsory) Act, 1990 does not make primary education compulsory at the national level. Instead, Section 3(1) states, "The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare primary education obligatory in whatever area from whenever onwards." The same Section 3 provides 'justified reasons' for a child (2(e) a boy or girl between 6 and 10 years) not to attend primary school. |
| Light work - Determination of types and conditions of activities | 2006-10-11 | C138 | Bangladesh Labour Act - Sections 39–42 | [{"link_name":"Bangladesh Labour Act","source_link":"https://mccibd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bangladesh-Labour-Act-2006_English-Upto-2018.pdf"}] | N/A | 3 | If the country chooses to allow light work, States must determine what activities are considered light work, and the hours and the circumstances under which they may be carried out. | Sections 39–42 of the Bangladesh Labour Act, Statutory Regulatory Order No. 65, prohibit hazardous occupations or activities for children. However, types and conditions of activities defined as light work are yet to be determined. |
| Minimum age for light work | 2006-10-11 | C138 | Bangladesh Labour Act - Section 44(1) | [{"link_name":"Bangladesh Labour Act","source_link":"https://mccibd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bangladesh-Labour-Act-2006_English-Upto-2018.pdf"}] | 12 | 2 | C138 defines light work as work that does not interfere with children’s schooling, or their ability to benefit from it, and that is not hazardous. C138 allows countries to permit light work for children younger than the general minimum age. For countries that set the minimum age at 15, this means children aged 13-14, and for those that set it at 14, children aged 12-13 may engage in light work. | Section 44(1) sets the age limit for children to do light work at 12 years, provided it does not interfere with their health or schooling. |
| Minimum age for admission to work | 2006-10-11 | C138 | Bangladesh Labour Act - Sections 2 (8) and 34 | [{"link_name":"Bangladesh Labour Act","source_link":"https://mccibd.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bangladesh-Labour-Act-2006_English-Upto-2018.pdf"}] | 14 | 1 | C138 establishes 15 as the minimum age for work in general. Developing countries have the option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional measure as they strengthen their education systems and economies. | Section 34 of the Labour Act 2006 prohibits employment of children and adolescents. According to Chapter 1, Section 2(8), the Bangladesh Labour Act defines an adolescent as a person who has completed their 14th year but has not completed their 18th year. |
International Legal Framework
International Legal Framework
| Ratification status | Convention | Convention description | Date of ratification | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in-force | C182 | Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) | 12-MAR-2001 | Source |
| in-force | C138 | Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) | 22-MAR-2022 | Source |
Policies and Plans
Policies and Plans
| Description | sources | Period | Policy name | Implementing agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The National plan of action on the Elimination of Child Labour identifies strategies for developing institutional capacity, increasing access to education and health services, raising social awareness, strengthening law enforcement, and creating prevention and reintegration programmes. MOLE activated the National Monitoring Core Committee prescribed under the National Plan of Action. The committee formulates national-level policies to eliminate child labour with assistance from NGOs. | [{"link_name":"National plan of action on the Elimination of Child Labour","source_link":"https://dife.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/dife.portal.gov.bd/publications/89b99da2_9025_4cdf_9b66_3116bde508fe/2023-02-14-06-08-c0442a5d5c1243326e924babf26c6686.pdf"}] | 2021- 2025 | National plan of action on the Elimination of Child Labour | Ministry of Labour and Employment (Lead Ministry), Ministry of Planning, The Child Labour Welfare Council, The Child Labour Monitoring Committees |