Community perception on child labour in Kasangati town council, Wakiso district

Abstract

Despite several attempts to eliminate child labour over time, the rates of child labour are still rampantly increasing. This qualitative cross-sectional study explored the Community Perceptions on Child Labour in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District. Individual face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 child labourers. In addition, one interview was conducted with the CDO, LC 1 and LC 3 Chairpersons and 2 focus group discussions with adult community members such as parents. Data collected was presented and analysed into themes. The study was based on the 3 objectives which included; to discuss the forms of child labour in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, the risks associated with child labour and the factors that push children to the different forms of child labour. The study found out that the community perceptions on child labour where that the community members were aware of child labour, the different forms of child labour in which the children involved included; commercial sexual exploitation, domestic helpers in people’s homes, hawking food stuffs in villages, working as porters at construction sites and luggage carrying. All these forms were associated with various risks such as discrimination, exploitation, abuse in all its kinds and injuries. These risks affected the social, physical and psychological development of the children. The study also found that children worked in unfavourable conditions which included; less pay as opposed to what they are supposed to get, sexual harassment at the work places among others. In a bid to put an end to child labour, the government should set more strict policies to ensure that child labour is no longer a problem in Kasangati Town Council, this should be with combined effort of the community leaders and members.