Date of Award

1-1-2000

Thesis Type

Masters

Document Type

Thesis

Divisions

Institute for Advanced Studies

Department

-

Institution

Universiti Malaya

Abstract

Child Labour is a widespread global phenomenon. Many international organisations, particularly the United Nations and International Labour Organisation have included the abolition of child labour in their agenda. In Malaysia child work is regulated by the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966. This Act is designed to protect children at work against exploitation and work hazards. However, this Act does not seem to be effective. This study is an attempt to show that the ineffectiveness of the law could be due to its inability to respond to local social and cultural factors, which influence the practice of child labour. Poverty is often cited as the root cause of child labour. However, this study shows that this may not be accurate. This study shows that some social and cultural factors are better explanation of Chinese childrens participation in work activities. In turn, these social and cultural factors make the law ineffective because the law is formed on the belief that poverty is the root cause of child labour and on western concepts of individual rights. Chapter One gives a general background of the study while Chapter Two provides a description of children's work activities and working conditions in Balakong. Chapter Three examines the determinants of child work. The writer shows that contrary to common belief, poverty is not the root cause of child work in Balakong. Rather, social and cultural factors are better explanation of children's participation in work activities. The positive and negative impacts of work on child workers are examined in Chapter Four. Chapter Five surveys the relevant international and national law which regulate child work. The effectiveness of the law is also examined. The concluding Chapter summarises the findings and policy implications of the study and recommends some measures to deal with the problem of child labour.

Initial

snms

Additional Information

Dissertation (M.A) -- Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, 2000

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