Table of Contents
Executive Summary vi
1. Introduction 1
1.1 The Problem 1
1.2 Domestic Child Labour as a Worst Form of Child Labour 2
1.3 Objectives 3
1.4 Methodology 4
1.4.1 Household survey 4
1.4.2 Focus Group Discussions 6
1.4.3 Key Informant Interviews 6
1.5 Lessons Learned 6
2. Domestic Child Labour in Kathmandu and in Nepal 7
3. Employer Profiles 8
4. Domestic Child Labour Profile 10
4.1 Literacy 11
4.2 Ethnicity, Caste and Origin 11
4.3 How Children Become Domestic Labourers 13
4.4 DCL and Family Vulnerability 14
4.4.1 Family structure 14
4.4.2 Family Assets 16
4.5 Two Categories of Domestic Child Labour 17
5. Domestic Child Labour 18
5.1 Work, risks and workload 18
5.2 Remuneration 19
5.3 Mobility and confinement 22
5.4 DCL Perceptions of their Occupation 24
6. Conclusions and Recommendations 26
6.1 Domestic Child Labour as a Worst Form of Child Labour 26
6.2 Recommendations 27
6.2.3 Specific Recommendations 29
References 30
Annexes 31
Annex I: Estimated Urban Domestic Child Labour in Nepal 31 Annex II: Questionnaires and Discussion Guidelines 33
List of Tables
Table 1.1 Estimated Number of Households by Category in Kathmandu 5 Table 2.1 Estimate of DCL in Kathmandu 7 Table 3.1 Households employing DCL by Caste and Occupation_____________8 Table 4.1 Distribution of DCL by Age and Sex 10 Table 4.2 Age of Employment as DCL 10 Table 4.3 Literacy Status of DCL 11 Table 4.4 Distribution of DCL by Caste/Ethnicity 12 Table 4.5 Distribution of DCL by District of Origin 12 Table 4.6 Person Recruiting DCL for Employers 13 Table 4.7 Involvement of DCL Before Becoming DCL 14 Table 4.8 Influences in Becoming a DCL 14 Table 4.9 DCL and Their Parents 15
Table 4.10 Size of DCL Family 15 Table 4.11 Siblings of DCL Also Working for Wage (below 18 Years) 15 Table 4.12 DCL Seniority in the Family 16 Table 4.13 Landholding Pattern of DCL Family 16 Table 4.14 Indebted DCL Families 17
Table 5.1 Main Activity of DCL 18 Table 5.2 Second Main Activity of DCL 18 Table 5.3 Average Working Hours of DCL 19 Table 5.4 Incidences of Injury During Work 19 Table 5.5 Salary of DCL 20 Table 5.6 Who Collects the Salary of DCL 20 Table 5.7 Quality of Room and Board 21 Table 5.8 DCL Currently Going to School 22 Table 5.9 Freedom to go Home 22 Table 5.10 Frequency of Home Visits in the Last Year 22 Table 5.11 Freedom to Leave the Job 23
Table 5.12 Number of Previous Places of Employment 23 Table 5.13 Reasons for Leaving Previous Work Place 24 Table 5.14 Reasons for not Recommending DCL Occupation 25 Table 6.1 Incidence of Worst Form Factors in Domestic Child Labour 27
List of Boxes
Box 1: Kanchi 8
Box 2: Asha: Urban Kamlahari! 13
Box 3: Renu's Work: Respite for Her Parents but a High Price to Pay 21 Box 4: Jyoti Wants to Work in an Office 24