Exploring the Socio-economic Drivers of Child Labor: A Case Study of the Hotel Industry in Quetta, Balochistan

1. Introduction

A child is defined as any human being under the age of 18 years, unless national laws specify an earlier age of majority (CRC-1990). Similarly, the 1973 Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan defines a child as anyone under the age of 18 years. However, the Employment of Children Act 1991 sets the definition of a child as anyone under 14 years of age, with an adolescent being defined as someone under 18. Following the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, the minimum age for labor was raised to 16 years, though no changes were made to labor laws regarding child workers. Article 25(A) of the Constitution mandates compulsory education for all children aged 5 to 16 years, reinforcing that children under 16 should not be permitted to work. The International Labour Organization (ILO) defines child labor as any economic activity that interferes with a child’s childhood, schooling, self-esteem, and damages their physical, emotional, and psychological development (paycheck.pk, accessed April 29, 2018).

2. Literature Review:

Child labor is a global issue that affects not only developing countries but has also become a challenge in many developed nations. The prevalence of child labor has been steadily increasing over time, despite efforts to address it. Countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have some of the highest numbers of children who are out of school and are engaged in child labor, representing nearly half of all child laborers globally (Fyfe, 2004).

Child labor remains a significant obstacle to social development worldwide, as it is not only a social evil but also a complex issue that continues to affect both developed and developing nations. While many countries have implemented plans to combat child labor, the issue persists. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), child labor refers to children under the age of 14 or 15 engaging in work that prevents them from accessing education or enjoying their childhood. ILO reports estimate that over 200 million children are involved in various forms of child labor, with more than 8 million engaged in hazardous and dangerous types of work. Many children work to support their families, with some involved in running shops, garages, and hotels, even as young as 5 to 14 years old (Ejaz, 2008).

While poverty is often cited as a major cause of child labor, it is not the sole factor. Cultural values, societal norms, and traditions in many societies also contribute to the prevalence of child labor. In some communities, it is a common practice for children to assist their parents in their work as a form of family support (Ariyanti, 2018). Other significant factors include lack of resources, insufficient governmental focus on addressing child labor, and a lack of awareness about the harmful effects of such work on children's health and development (Avais et al., 2016).

A study conducted in Solapur, Maharashtra, in 2007 aimed to identify the causes of child labor in the city. The findings revealed that the majority of children worked due to insufficient family income and resources, which forced them to seek employment to help alleviate their family's financial difficulties (Wadgave et al., 2013).

3. Pakistan’s Scenario on Child Labor:

In Pakistan, children make up about 10 percent of the total workforce, with many of them working between the ages of 10 and 14 years. The country’s per capita income is approximately $1,900, and the average white-collar worker earns around $5 per day. The average Pakistani family, which often includes 9 to 10 members, struggles to support itself on this daily wage. In the 1990s, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) estimated that 11 million children were engaged in various forms of labor, with nearly half of them being under the age of 10. Additionally, it was projected that child workers made up about one-fourth of the country's total workforce.

A large number of these children work in shops, workshops, and other informal sectors. Among the working population, 22.5% earn less than PKR 500 per month (around USD 6) (Zaidi et al., 2013).

In societies like Pakistan, a significant number of children contribute to household income by participating in economic activities. Child labor has been a crucial element in nearly every sector of the country's economy. Many children work in informal sectors, either helping relatives with household chores or serving as domestic workers in homes. Additionally, they often work part-time or overtime in businesses, shops, on the streets, and in hotels. Most working children are employed alongside their parents in the informal economy, particularly in agriculture and small-scale industries (Mazhar, 2008).

4. Child Labor in Balochistan:

Child labor is a pervasive issue across the Balochistan region, with children engaged in a wide range of exploitative work, including in coal mines, construction sites, auto workshops, hotels, and as garbage collectors. This widespread child labor has significant negative impacts on the physical, mental, and moral well-being of children, leading to severe issues such as trafficking and other forms of abuse.

According to a 2013 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), over 500 children were found working in coal mines in the Loralai district of Balochistan. Additionally, the Society for Human Resource Development (SEHR) reported that approximately 10,000 child laborers are working in Quetta.

Child labor in the region also severely affects children's access to education. Of the 3.6 million children in Balochistan, around 2.3 million are deprived of schooling and are instead forced into labor, often working in garages alongside their parents or other family members (Altaf, 2017).

5. Worst Forms of Child Labor:

There are several forms of child labor that are considered the most harmful, including slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, serfdom, and forced labor.

• Slavery is the most extreme form of child labor, where children are forced to surrender their rights and freedoms to their "masters," often under threat or coercion.
• Child trafficking is another grave form of exploitation, where children are kidnapped and transported to other cities or countries, or, in some cases, sent by their parents due to extreme poverty.
• Debt bondage occurs when parents incur debts that they cannot repay. In this situation, they are often forced to send their children to work for the creditor, with the children working until the debt is paid off.
• Serfdom is a form of child labor where a person is forced to work without pay or for very little compensation, often under oppressive conditions, due to the control of another person or group.
• Forced labor involves children being compelled to work against their will, without their consent, in harsh and exploitative conditions (Pouty et al., 2004).

6. Causes of Child Labor:

Child labor is a social evil driven by multiple interconnected factors. Key contributors to its persistence include poverty, illiterate parents, large family sizes, lack of income resources, limited job opportunities for educated individuals, an underdeveloped education system, overpopulation, and traditional societal practices (Rao et al., 2004).

In many cases, children are found in vulnerable labor situations due to the neglect or indifference of their parents, who often do not prioritize their children's education or well-being (Dessy et al., 2005). The most pressing causes of child labor are poverty, lack of education, poor economic conditions, and ignorance among parents regarding the risks of child labor (Wassan et al., 2004).

Ground realities reveal that the lack of basic needs, healthcare facilities, and access to education all increase the likelihood of children being forced into labor. Families struggling to make ends meet often send their children to work to contribute to household income (Akhtar et al., 2010).

A survey conducted in Lahore, Sialkot, and Gujranwala (major cities in Punjab, Pakistan) found that poverty, outdated family traditions, and the struggle for survival were key drivers of child labor. The average age of child laborers was found to be 11 years, with children working to meet their family's daily needs (Khan, 1982).

The root cause of child labor is often poverty, which forces families to send their children to work, as these families are unable to meet even the basic necessities of life. Low aspirations and lack of investment in children's futures are also major causes globally. Parents may prioritize short-term survival over long-term education, pushing children into the workforce. Additionally, the demand for unskilled labor is a contributing factor, as children are seen as cheap, unskilled workers, making them easy to exploit.

Another significant cause is illiteracy and the high cost of education. In many areas, the illiteracy rate is high, and parents may not send their children to school due to the financial burden of education, leading to an increase in child labor.

Early marriages and overpopulation also contribute to child labor. In regions where early marriages are common, parents often have large numbers of children and, due to limited resources, send them to work in order to financially support the family (Victor, 2017).

The causes of child labor can be categorized into three main types: pull factors, push factors, and interactive factors:

• Pull factors: These are external factors that attract children into the workforce, such as the low wages that employers are willing to pay children. For example, during the 1990s in Bangladesh, garment factories attracted poverty-stricken children by offering low wages.
• Push factors: These are internal pressures that force children into labor, such as extreme poverty, the loss of a family breadwinner, or parental separation, which compel children to work in order to support the family.
• Interactive factors: These are psychological and social factors that push children into labor. For instance, children may be manipulated or exploited by adults who take advantage of their desire to earn money. Other interactive factors include lack of interest in education, failure in exams, peer pressure, family punishment, or psychological stress at home.

The two primary causes of child labor are the lack of education and lack of awareness. Education is one of the most effective ways to combat child labor and poverty. Therefore, the provision of free, quality primary education must be a top priority for governments, with easy access to schools and affordable education. The second major factor is the lack of awareness about the harmful effects of child labor. In many regions, there is insufficient awareness about the dangers of child labor and the importance of educating children (Saddat, 2009).

7. Methodology

This study is descriptive in nature, focusing on the socio-economic causes of child labor, particularly in the hotel industry in Quetta. While several studies have explored similar themes, this research specifically examines the factors influencing child labor in hotels, considering not only the impact of poverty but also other factors such as family-run businesses.

A total of 200 working children were selected through an accidental sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and direct observations. To ensure the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, a pre-testing exercise was conducted.

Once collected, the data were cleaned, processed, and analyzed using SPSS to perform descriptive statistical analysis.

8. Results and Discussion

Hotel Businesses in Quetta and the Contribution of Children

The study focused on children involved in labor at hotels in Quetta, with respondents including both paid and unpaid child workers. Paid children receive direct compensation for their work—either daily, weekly, or monthly—while unpaid children typically work in family-run hotels (e.g., under the supervision of their fathers, older brothers, or uncles in joint family setups). Despite not receiving wages, these children still contribute economically by saving the money that would otherwise be paid to external workers.

In Quetta, hotels vary in size—large, medium, and small—and offer different types of food and services. Children in these hotels perform a wide range of tasks, including:

• Serving food to customers,
• Cleaning dishes and hotel premises,
• Cutting vegetables and meat,
• Bringing water and other supplies,
• Preparing tea or food in some cases,
• Loading and unloading goods (both food and non-food items).

These tasks expose children to difficult physical and emotional challenges, often resulting in both short- and long-term psychosocial problems.

Personal Profile of the Respondents

All of the children interviewed in this study were boys, as cultural norms in the region typically exclude girls from working in hotels and restaurants. The mean age of the respondents was 13.4 years. Most children spoke Pashto as their mother tongue, reflecting the predominance of Pashtoon-run businesses in the hotel sector of Quetta.

A key finding was that only 3% of the respondents had completed middle school, while 34% were literate at the primary school level. The remaining children had either never attended school or dropped out early. About 13% had received religious education from a Madrassa.

Regarding family background, most of the children lived in a joint family system. 36% of the children lived away from their families in Quetta, having migrated from other districts in Balochistan in search of work. Notably, 38% of the respondents had other underage family members involved in economic activities. This suggests that child labor is becoming more common in families with multiple working children, particularly in low-income households. However, middle-class families were also found to have children working in family-owned hotels.

Socio-economic Causes of Child Labor in Hotels/Restaurants

Child labor is a complex issue influenced by various socio-economic, political, and geographical factors. This study specifically focused on identifying the socio-economic causes of child labor in Quetta's hotel and restaurant industry. While poverty is a significant driver of child labor, the study reveals that other social factors are also at play.

According to the data in Figure 1, the majority of working children (94%) reported that their involvement in child labor was due to their family's insufficient income. An almost identical percentage (91%) indicated that they had taken up work to fill the gap in family income caused by the unemployment of older family members.

Further analysis showed that two-thirds of the children agreed that they worked because there were no elder family members available to provide for the family. Additionally, 70% of the respondents reported working to fulfill basic family needs, and 53% cited the rising unemployment of family members as a contributing factor.

These findings strongly suggest that poor income conditions, unemployment of adult family members, and the need to meet basic family needs are the primary factors driving child labor in hotels and restaurants. These results align with similar research on child labor conducted in other regions of Balochistan and Pakistan (Wassan et al., 2014; Wadgave & Godale, 2013; Zaidi et al., 2013; Khan, 1982; Akhtar et al., 2010; Avais et al., 2016).

Socio-economic Factor	Percentage of Respondents Agreeing	Interpretation
Lack of Family Income	94%	Lack of family income is the strongest driver of child labor in hotels.
To Overcome Basic Family Needs	70%	Many children work to help meet their family's basic financial needs.
Increased Unemployment in the Family	53%	Family unemployment contributes significantly to child labor in hotel businesses.
Filling the Gap Due to Unemployment of Family Members	91%	Child labor often fills the income gap caused by adult family members' unemployment.
No Adult Male Family Member to Support the Family	30%	The absence of an adult male breadwinner in the family leads to child labor.

10. Conclusion

The causes of child labor in the hotel industry in Quetta, as identified in the study, are deeply rooted in poverty, inflation, and the large size of families. These socio-economic factors compel children to enter the workforce at a very young age, often at the expense of their physical and mental well-being. Many of these children are unaware of the long-term harm that early employment can inflict on their development.

However, addressing child labor is not just the responsibility of the affected families; it is also the duty of the government and state to protect the welfare of its citizens, particularly vulnerable children. To mitigate this issue, effective legislation must be enacted and enforced. The government should prioritize family welfare services, ensuring that families, particularly those facing economic hardship, have access to social support systems and educational opportunities for their children.

Education and the right to play are fundamental rights of every child. Therefore, the government must take immediate steps to guarantee that these rights are upheld. This can be achieved by improving access to quality education, making it affordable and accessible, and raising awareness within communities about the importance of education over child labor. Moreover, a strict and comprehensive child labor law needs to be enacted and implemented effectively to curb this pervasive social issue.

In conclusion, the prevention of child labor requires a multi-pronged approach, combining strong legal frameworks, community awareness, and economic support for families. Only through these efforts can we create a society where children are allowed to grow, learn, and play without being forced into labor at such an early stage in their lives.