Economic impact of domestic child labour at a micro family level in Tanzania

Domestic Child Labour is one form of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. Tanzania is among a few nations in the world that implement the program on the Elimination of the Worst Form of Child Labour, under the sponsorship of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The main objective of the study was to assess economic impact of Domestic Child Labour at the micro-family level in Tanzania. The Dar Es Salaam region has been chosen to represent other regions due to the fact that, the region is the main recipient of domestic child labourers from up-country. Tanzania implements Time Bound Programme (TBP) on the elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. However, one big problem that has been facing the programme is lack of accurate data on the size and direction of the problem. Data from this study provide actual economic size and direction of the problem that are important factors in facilitating the implementation of the programme. Domestic child labourers were observed in their working environment. They also filled questionnaires, which were distributed to them by research assistances. Respondent total 72 from Dar Es Salaam region filled the questionnaires that means, 30 respondents were from Kinondoni districts, 22 respondents were from Ilala district and 20 respondents were from Temeke district. Sample selection was based on the population of working children and convenience. It has been observed from the study that, child domestic workers work long hours and are subjected to abuse, torture and harassments except for those who work for their own families. In average, they work for eighteen hours a day. Moreover, domestic child labourers contribute at an average of 20% of family annual income. Working children contribute either direct from their monthly wages or contribute indirectly by helping their parents in paid or unpaid economic activities. It has been observed that, Domestic Child Labour has a negative effect on human capital accumulation process because domestic works interrupt with school process. Working children either have no opportunities to enrol themselves in primary or secondary schools or they are unable to pay fees for the education.