When Does Work Become Labor? Tracing the Transition from Zero Work to Child Labor in Pakistan

• In Event: 30454 - Student Forum Special Topic Paper Session

Abstract

Child labor remains a critical global issue, with over 160 million children engaged in labor worldwide, including unpaid household services—a form of hidden child work that requires greater attention. This study examines the role of family structure and birth order in the transition of children from zero work to child work and child labor, focusing on quantifying unpaid household services and proposing policy changes to address this overlooked issue. Using data from the UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) in Pakistan, the study analyzes a nationally representative sample of 86,577 households and 4,028 children aged 5–17 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Multinomial logistic regression and nested models reveal that family structure and birth order significantly predict child work and child labor, with firstborn children disproportionately represented in both categories. Structural inequalities, uneven development, and constitutional disparities are identified as key factors contributing to high rates of child work and labor within Pakistan and in GB. The findings suggest that early-born children and those in larger families are more likely to engage in child labor, as they often provide resources for later-born siblings’ human capital development. The study concludes by urging policymakers, including the International Labor Organization (ILO), to revisit the categorization of child work and labor, particularly regarding unpaid household services to protect children from this hidden sector. Recommendations include sensitizing parents to balance household chores for their children between zero work to child labor and the state to remove structural barriers in the equal distribution of resources.
Keywords: Zero Work, Child Work, Child Labor, Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Family Structure, Birth Order, ILO.

Author

• Shah Zaman, Georgia State University