A new study by Educo Bangladesh and the Child Labor Elimination Platform (CLAP) reveals that 66.6% of child laborers in Bangladesh are working in industrial factories, followed by 44.4% in services and 38.8% in agriculture. The report, presented at a policy-sharing event in Dhaka, warns that most of these children face severe health risks and calls for stronger social protection measures to prevent child labor.

Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, who presented the policy proposal, noted that around 3.5 million children are engaged in various forms of work, with about 100,000 in hazardous conditions. Despite existing laws and international commitments, informal child labor remains widespread. Government officials reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and pledged to expand social safety nets for out-of-school children.

Experts at the event emphasized the need for universal child benefits, increased education spending, and investment in rural livelihoods to reduce economic dependency on child labor. The recommendations aim to strengthen Bangladesh’s social protection framework and accelerate progress toward eliminating child labor by 2030.