(RLDS) - Addis Ababa University

ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS OFFICE
REGIONAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
(RLDS)
CHILD LABOR IN THE INFORMAL SECTOR IN NORTHERN ADDIS ABABA: THE
CASE OF WEAVERS AROUND ‘SHERO MEDA’ AREA
BY: LOMI YADETA
JUNE, 2002
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS OFFICE
REGIONAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
(RLDS)
Child Labour in the Informal Sector in Northern Addis Ababa-The case of
Weavers around ‘Shero Meda’ area
Approved by Board of Examiners
Signature
By : Lomi Yadeta
1. __________________________ ___________________
Chairman, Graduate Committee
2. _________________________ ______________________
Advisor
3.__________________________
Internal Examiner
4.__________________________
External Examiner

DECLARATION
I declare that this thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any
University and all the sources of materials used for the thesis are duly acknowledged.
Name Lomi Yadeta
Signature:
Date: June, 2002
Place: Addis Ababa University

Acknowledgment
“Praise be to the Lord my Rock”
Psalm 144:1
My special thanks goes to my Advisor Dr. Assefa Bequele for his unreserved expert advice in
the preparation of this paper. Next to my advisor I would like to say thank you to Essete
Solomon and Betseit Sissay for proof reading the paper. Their encouraging words were
inspiring.
I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to all the people who helped me in every
step of the preparation of the paper. Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to
thank my parents, and my whole family, who have always been there. The credit is not only
mine it goes to all the people who helped me in one way or another. Thank you and God Bless
You!

Table of Contents
Pages
Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………………. iv
List of Tables………………………………….………………………………….………... v
List of Maps and Figure…………………………………………………………………... vi
Acronyms…………………………………………………………………………………. . viii
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………. ix
PART ONE
1.
1
INTRODUCTION……………………………………….…………………
….…
1.1. Global Situation………………….……………………….…….…………… 3
1.2. Child Labor in Developing Countries-Africa……………………………….. 5
1.3. Country Specific……………………………………………………………. 6
1.4. Statement of the Problem………………………………...…………………. 6
1.5. Research Questions………………………………………………………….. 9
1.6. Objectives…………………………………………………………………… 10
1.7. Significance of the Study…………………………………………………… 11
1.8. Concepts and definitions……………………………………………………. 12
1.9. Organization of the study………………………………….………………... 16
1.10. Limitation and Problems encountered…………...…………………………. 17
PART TWO
2. METHODOLOGY ……………………………………………………….……… 18
2.1. Data Collection Techniques………………………………………………... 18
2.1.1. Secondary Resources………………………………………………. 18
2.1.2. Primary Data……………………………………………………….. 18
2.1.2.1. Key Informant………………………..……………………. 19
2.1.2.2. Focus Group Discussion…………………………………. 19
2.1.2.3. Survey Method……………………………………………. 19
2.1.2.3.1. Sampling Techniques ……………….…………. 20
2.2. Data Collection…………………………………………………………….. 23
2.3. Data Analysis………………………………………………………………. 24
2.4. Description of the Area…………………………………………………….. 24
2.1.1. Location……………………………………………………………. 24
2.1.2. Population …………………………………………………………. 25
2.1.3. Ethnicity …………………………………………………………… 25
2.1.4. Economic Activity………………………………………………… 25
ii

PART THREE
2.1.4. Social Service Provision …………………………………………...
3. LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………….……… 27
3.1. Early theoretical ideas……………………………………………… ……... 27
3.2. Conceptualizing Child Labor……………………………..
……………...
28
3.1.1. Conceptual Framework…………………………………………….. 28
3.1.2. Frame work for Measurement …………………………………….. 32
3.3. Causes of child Labor
…………………………………………….……….
36
3.4. Types of child labor……………………………………………………….. 40
3.5. Legal and Policy Issue……………………………………………………... 41
PART FOUR
4. MAJOUR FINDINGS AND
DISCUSSION…………………………………….
44
4.1. Child Characteristics………………………………………………. ……... 44
4.1.1 Age and sex distribution…………………………………… ……... 44
4.1.2. Place of Origin and living Arrangement…………………… ……... 46
4.1.3. Religion and Ethnicity……………………………………………... 47
4.2. Characteristics of the Home Based Enterprise Operator…………………... 48
4.2.1. Age and sex distribution……………………………………. …….. 48
4.2.2. Place of Origin……………………………………………………… 49
4.2.3. Religion and Ethnicity……………………………………………… 49
4.2.4. Marital status……………………………………………….. ……... 50
4.2.5. Education and monthly income…………………………………….. 50
4.3. Reason for Working……………………………………………………….. 51
4.4. Nature of the Work and Work Environment……………………………… 56
4.4.1. Working Place……………………………………………………... 56
4.4.2. Technology………………………………………………… ……... 58
4.5. Employment………………………………….……………………………. 60
4.5.1. Employment Mechanism………………………………………….. 60
4.5.2. Average age and number of employees…………………………… 61
4.5.3. Average age and working hours of employees……………………. 63
4.6. What tips off the Balance………………………………………………… 64
4.6.1. Age ………..……………………………………………………….. 64
iii
26

4.6.2. Working Hour……………………………………………… ……... 67
4.6.3. Wage……………………………………………………….. ……... 72
4.6.4. Education……………………………….…….……………………. 74
4.6.5. Breaks and Visits…………………………………………………... 82
4.6.6. Health Impact……………………………………………… ……... 82
4.7. Child attitude to Work…………………………………………………….…. 83
4.8. Relationship with Employers………………………………………………… 83
4.9. Child and Employer plan for the future………………………………….. 84
PART FIVE
5. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation…………………………………….. 86
5.1. Summary and conclusion…………………………………………………... 86
5.2. Recommendation…………………………………………………………... 91
Bibliography
Annex I. Questionnaire
II. Focus Group Discussion Theme
II. Name of People and organization contacted
III. List of Participants in the focus group discussion
IV. Map
iv

List of Tables
Table 1 Sample
size……………………………………………………….. 22
Table 2 Age and sex distribution………………………………………….. 45
Table 3 Place of origin and living arrangement…………………………… 46
Table 4 Religion and Ethnic group distribution…………………………… 47
Table 5 Education Status of HBEO and monthly income from weaving ….. 51
Table 6 Ownership of working place………………………………………. 57
Table 7 Employment Mechanism…………………………………………… 60
Table 8 Average working hours and wage………………………………….. 63
Table 9 Work starting Age and living arrangement…………………………. 65
Table 10 Age and Work experience………………………………………….. 66
Table 11 Working hours per a day and working days per a week…………… 68
Table 12 Age and Working hours…………………………………………….. 69
Table 13 Working days and for whom the child is working…………………. 71
Table 14 Age and payment per week………………………………………….. 73
Table 15 Place of origin and schooling………………………………………. 74
Table 16 Age and Education…………………………………………………. 76
Table 17 Living arrangement and time of school attendance………………… 78
Table 18 Working hours and Education……………………………………… 81
v

List of Figure
Picture 1 Migrant child working in the HBE……………………………………….. 50
Picture 2 The weavers using the Pit –Loom for Weaving…………………………….56
Picture 3 Working outside their home……………………………………………….. 57
Picture 4 Children Working in a Group……………………………………………… 60
List of Graphs and Maps
Graph 1 Age distribution by sex ……………………………………………………..46
Map 1 Map of Addis Ababa……………………………………………………….. 122
Map 2 Map of the study area……………………………………………………… 123
vi

3.2.
3.3. Recommendations ----------------------------42
4. Bibliography ---------------------------------------------44
5. Appendices (1-4) --------------------------------------48-55
6. Specimen of students written work and
instructors' written comment ------------------------56-77
vii

Acronyms
CSA Central Statistical Authority
CYAO Child and Youth Affair Organization
DCI Defense for children International
EAMAT East Africa Multi Disciplinary Advisory Team
ECD Early Childhood Development
HBE Home Based Enterprise
HBEO Home Based Enterprise Operators
ILO International Labour Organization
IPEC International Program for the Elimination of Child Labour
ISPCAN International Society for the prevention of child Abuse and Neglect
IWGCL International working group on Child labor
MOLSA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
SPSS Statistical Package for Social Sciences
SSA Sub Saharan Africa
UIS Urban Informal Sector
UN United Nations
UNICEF United Nations International Children and Education Fund
viii

Abstract
In Urban areas child workers are mostly engaged in the informal sector. The informal sector
is unregistered and unregulated and cannot easily be detected by the public. Thus, it has
become an ideal place for children to be engaged in hazardous work, hidden form the public.
There are different types of child labor even in the informal sectors, but the study covers only
those children who are engaged in the traditional cloth production in home based enterprises
around ‘Shero meda’ area. The general objective of the study is to inquire in to the
determinants and effects of child labor in terms of its impacts on the development of children
engaged in child labor in the northern part of Addis Ababa.
The study is a child-focused research that used a combination of primary and secondary data
in a complementary way. The secondary data is collected from published and unpublished
resources at national and internationals sources. The primary data based its information on
the survey conducted by the researcher using structured questionnaire that is addressed to the
child and the home-based enterprise operators. Since the issue is the child’s the unit of
analysis is the working child and the home-based enterprise is used as a sampling unit. The
working child and the home-based enterprise operator are used as a source of information for
the survey. And focus group discussion and key informant method is applied to validate and
supplement the information gathered using the survey.
The study found out that most of the working children are migrants from Gamo-Gofa area,
who came to Addis Ababa with the hope of having a better future and education. In the study
area, the children start work at early age. One third of the children started work with in the
age group of 5-9 and more than half of the children started work when they were with in the
age group of 10-14. Three fourth of them are working for six days in a week and the majority
of them work at least thirteen hours per day and to the minimum 78 hours per a week. Even
for civil servants the regular working hours to the maximum is 40 hours per week by law. And
their access to education is limited that is 40% of the children are illiterate and 30% are
school dropouts. More than three fourth of the children are paid a wage way below the
minimum wage paid to daily laborers anywhere in the city. The children are not allowed to
leave their work, which indicates that it is a form of bonded labor. The majority of the
children are working in a crowded room where on average three children using two pit-loom
are working in one room that serves as a living and working place at the same time. From the
child perspective the cost of working is higher than the benefit. This is mainly because they
are working under hazardous and exploitative working conditions. Not only are they suffering
currently they are also compromising the future too. The employers are exploiting the cheap
labor provided by the children almost without any cost.
The study recommended that protective, rehabilitative and preventive actions should be taken
to improve the work environment and working condition of the children. The actions
recommended include the establishment of informal education that takes in to consideration
the situation of the children, awareness creation using advocacy as a strategy through
partnership with NGO’s, CBO’s and the government. Priority should be given to those
children who are working under hazardous and exploitative working conditions.
ix

PART ONE
1. Introduction
Child labor is not a new phenomenon and children have participated in day-to-day activities of
the family and human society since the beginning of time. In earliest times, it was assumed that
child workers are involved in a very easy work that is useful to their wellbeing and development.
Furthermore, it was assumed that a few number of children are involved in child labor, which is
hazardous, and this can be resolved through simple actions like trade law and some legal actions.
Nevertheless, the actual figure of working children is alarming and child Labor is a complex
issue that involves economic, social, cultural, legal, religious and political factors (Myers 1998;
UNICEF 1997).
After the industrial revolution Child labor became to be considered as a social problem in Europe
and after mid of nineteenth century in America. Some researchers asserted that it emerged way
before the industrial revolution. Primarily, the present day developed countries faced the problem
in larger magnitude “currently no continental region in the world has higher participation rates
than Britain did in the middle of the last century. However, some nations such as Ethiopia have a
much higher rate” (Basu 1998: 10). Now it has become the problem of developing countries,
since 90% of children engaged in child labor, are found there (Grootaert 1998).
Currently, child labor has become a global issue attracting the attentions of international organizations like UNICEF, ILO, NGO's, and Private
agencies as well as governments. The
concern can be understood in terms of humanitarian, developmental and economic concern (Anker 2000:259). The humanitarian concern refers to
the protection of children from abusive and exploitative type of work. Children have a right to education, health and to grow enjoying their
childhood. For this purpose, they should be released from work engagement, which is drudgery and exploitative. The developmental concern
refers to the cognitive development that includes children's access to education. It is assumed that in many cases child labour either substitute
schooling or affects the quality of education negatively. Finally, the economic concern refers to the long-term impact of child labour on capital
formation and its contribution to the increasing number of adult unemployment in developing countries (Bequele 1995; Anker 2001)
1

There are many ways of classifying child labour based on different criteria. In most cases the
classification is based on remuneration, on the basis of economic activity, or on the basis of
employment relationship and working conditions. Classification of child workers based on
employment relationship and working conditions is commonly used. In relation to this, child
work is categorized in to domestic work, non domestic and non paid farm work, wage labor,
employment in the informal sector and bonded or tied labour. UNICEF in 1997 identified seven
types of child labor. These are domestic service, forced and bonded labor, commercial sexual
exploitation, industrial and plantation work, street work, work for the family and girls work
(UNICEF 1997;Bequele 1995;Fyfe 1993).
On the other hand others classify child labor on the basis of hazards faced by the child worker
that is based on working conditions. Based on these, Myers identified three types of working
children. The first category refers to children who are engaged in work that are hazardous and
affect their development negatively. These are considered as the intolerable forms of child
Labor. The second category refers to those children who are involved in work, which might
expose them to danger. These are children who are on their way crossing the boarder between a
work that is detrimental to their health and a work that is beneficial to their development. The
third one refers to children who are engaged in a work, which is not detrimental to their
development (Myers 1998:19). The subjects of this study are child workers who are engaged in
the urban informal sector in traditional cloth production or Weaving.
1.1. Magnitude of the Problem Globally
The problem of child labor was raised during the industrial revolution. However, some researchers strongly argue that child labor with almost
similar magnitude existed in the 18 th century too. Nevertheless, this assertion is not supported by statistical evidence. In England, the prevalence
of child labour was high in the beginning from early 19 th century. A census report conducted in 1861 indicated that 36.9% out of the total children
with in the age group of 10-14 were workers (Basu 1999:11).
2

The exact number of working children in the world is not known however some estimates have been made. The estimate is affected by the
definition of child labour and on the available data. For instance, a child is considered as a worker if the child is economically active or gainfully
employed. A child is considered as economically active if “the child is engaged in work on a regular bases and for which the child is remunerated
or which results in out put destined for the market” (Basu 1998:4). On the other hand, if the definition of a child includes children who are
engaged in an invisible work and are not paid for or their products rarely reaches the market, it makes a difference on the figure or statistics of
child labour (Ashagrie 2000: Basu 1998).
Next to definitions of a child, another factor that affects the statistics of child labour is under reporting. There are countries that consider child
labour as violation of human right or as an illegal act. In reaction to this, naturally employers who use child labor hide their activities and there is
a tendency to under-report the incidence. This being the case, “Child workers remain concentrated in agriculture, domestic service and the urban
informal sector because there they are most hidden from public scrutiny. The abuse of child labor today depends greatly on the invisibility of its
victims”(ILO 1989: 2). So, it is not exaggeration to say official statistics on child labor is normally under reported due to the above-mentioned
reasons.
Despite these limitations, Kebebewe collected the available information and compiled the first international data on Child labor in 1993.
According to this report, the total population of working children all over the world in 1990, who were economically active, was 79 million, and
the majority i.e. 57 % was found in Asia. However, after a decade the figure declined in Asia while child labor rate increased in Latin America
and Africa (Basu 1998:7).
1.2. Developing Countries
The exact number of children involved in child labour in developing countries is not known. But
ILO and UNICEF have made some estimate at different times. This estimation of the level of
child labor in developing counties varies. UNICEF in 1991 estimated that 80 million children
between the age of 10-14 are engaged in child labor. It is reported by International Labor
Organization more than 120 million children between the age of 5 and 14 are engaged in full
time work in developing countries (Ashagrie 2001:117). The figure shows that in developing
countries the incidence of child labor is very high.
If the definition of child labor includes the children who are involved in part time work the figure
will double itself and the total estimated number of working children will be 250 million (Basu
1998; Ashagrie 2000). Generally the developing countries contribute more than 90% of the
incidence of child labour in the world figure. More than 99 percent of the incidence of child
3

labor is found in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America where children are
contributing as high as one third of the family income (Basu 1998: Ashagrie 2000).
In Africa the larger portion of child labor takes place at home that made its estimation more complicated (WB 2001:2). As compared to other
regions sub Saharan Africa has the highest child labor participation rate. It is even estimated to be twice of the Asian child participation rate. In
this regard an estimate made by ILO indicated that from the children who are under 14 years old, 41% are engaged in work (WB 2001:1).
1.3. Magnitude of the Problem-Country Specific
The International Labor Organization estimate of child labor indicates that there is high child
labor participation rate in Ethiopia. According to the estimates done by ILO (1995) from the year
1950 to 1990 Ethiopia had on average 48.29 percent of children aged 10-14 economically active.
Moreover the socio economic as well as the cultures of the country leave no doubt to expect high
participation rate (Assefa 2001). Even if, nation wide survey on child labor is being undertaken it
was not possible to use it for this paper, as it is not completed yet.
1.4. Statement of the Problem
Child labor is concentrated mostly in sectors that are not easily detected by the public. Studies in
the area show that the number of working children is high in rural areas, in the agriculture sector,
as full time housekeepers, baby-minders in small shops, and in the urban informal sector. In
urban areas, child workers are mostly engaged in the informal sector. The number of children
who are working in the formal sector is insignificant when compared with the informal sector.
The informal sector is growing rapidly in developing countries and almost more than 60% of the
inhabitants of the city earn a living in the informal sector (CSA 1997:22). The informal sector is
heterogeneous in different countries. It varies even from one city to another and from one part of
the city to another. It is a broad term, which refers to very small-scale enterprises and to larger
4

manufacturing industries. In addition to this, the informal sector is vulnerable since it functions
with little or no protection from the legal sector. This by itself puts the informal sector in
vulnerable position and exposes it for danger from different directions. In the urban informal
sector there is low level of technology that does not require highly specialized skills. As a result
with the capacity of a child it can easily be operated and well managed (Matsebula 1996).
A study conducted in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire indicated a big difference between rural and
urban working children. In rural areas the working children usually combine work and school. In
urban areas, children are brought from rural areas to cover the domestic work while the children
of the household are sent to school. Further more, since child labor is prohibited in the legislation
of most nations, children are engaged in the informal sector working under hazardous and
unsuitable work environment for their wellbeing. Consequently, the ‘ plight of children’ in the
informal sector is very high (Grootaert 1998:6).
In Ethiopia there are about 584,913 informal sector establishments in the country as a whole.
Out of these establishments manufacturing comprising 47%, is the leading industry. It is
followed by trade, hotels and restaurant constituting 41% (CSA 1997:34). This indicates
manufacturing, trade and hotel and restaurant in the urban informal sector. The major products of
the manufacturing sector include clothing mainly weaving of cultural clothes as well as tailoring.
In Addis Ababa, this activity is concentrated in the Northern part of the city, commonly referred
as 'Shero Meda' area, which is the subject of the study (CSA 1997).
5

Addis Ababa constitutes 23% (166,405 people) employment of the total urban informal sector in
the country. This indicates existence of high concentration of the informal sector in the city. Out
of the total number of people who are engaged in the informal sector, those who are less than 10
years old are 3269, while those within the age group of 10-14 and 15-19 are about 27,065 and
52,130 respectively. In urban areas, there are different factors that force people to be engaged in
the informal sector in urban areas. Some of the reasons are the demand for their products, low
level of working capital required to operate these establishments and limited skills as well as lack
of opportunities (CSA 1997: 36-37).
It is estimated that there are about 16,060,720 children within the age group of 5-14 years,
constituting 46% of Ethiopia's population. The Labour survey conducted in 1999 with reference
to Addis Ababa indicated that out of the total number of children, 32.3 % are engaged in
productive activities. The survey indicates also the main activities in which children are engaged
in to be paid domestic service and self-employment. Furthermore out of the working 1 children
who are engaged in productive activities 44.7% were working to be self-reliant. The report also
indicated that male children are engaged in productive activities while female working children
are engaged more in domestic activities (CSA 1999:202).
A study on child labour in urban district of Addis Ababa in 1998 indicated that child workers are
the victims of various forms of child abuse including physical, sexual, emotional abuse and
neglect. The study was a comparative study that compared working children and non-working
children. The result indicated that 70% of working children were victims of abuse while only
1 The report categorized all children in the country as working and non-working. Those children who are engaged in productive activities are
considered as working and those who are engaged in domestic activities are considered as non working
6

25 % of non-working children suffered some form of abuse. Another survey in Ethiopia showed
that more than three quarters of working children work for more than nine hours a day and gave
all the money they earned to their families (Assefa 2001;Daniel 1998)
In Ethiopia there is no clear-cut policy that addresses explicitly the issues of child labor to
protect children from hazardous work and exploitation, particularly in the informal sector where
the exploitation of children is rampant. The issue of child labor is not yet condemned openly
among the society at large (Assefa 2001). In addition, little is known about the situation of
working children in the city in particular, and the country as a whole. Under the circumstances,
no meaningful solutions can be proposed without adequately understanding the situations of
child workers in the informal sector and the rationale behind the cause of the problem. Thus, the
problem has to be analyzed within the cultural, political and socioeconomic context through
empirical research. This is the purpose of the study.
1.5. Research Questions
The research will answer the following questions
1. Who are the working children?
2. Why are children engaged in child labour?
3. What kind of work are they engaged in?
4. What is the situation of their working environment?
5. Is the work they are performing detrimental to their development?
6. What is the impact of their work on their schooling?
7. Who employs them and why are they employed?
7

8. Who benefits from their work?
9. How does the community, parents or guardians perceive child work?
1.6. Research Objectives
General Objective
Inquire into the determinants and effects of child labour in terms of its impacts on the
development of children engaged in child labour in the northern part of Addis Ababa
Specific Objectives
Investigate on the nature and magnitude of child labour in the area
Identify the reasons that pushed children to be engaged in work at an early age in the area
Investigate the impact of work on the development of the child
Assess the working conditions under which children are working
Investigate the nature of employment and relationship with their employers
Inquire the ways in which they are benefiting from the work they are performing
1.7. Significance of the Study
Even though child work is a universal phenomenon, the nature of the work performed by
children, their working condition and the situations that pushed them to be engaged in work at an
early stage of their life varies from one society to another. In Ethiopia there is no complete
information on the situation of child labour. Nation wide survey, which indicates the seriousness
8

or magnitude of the problem, is not conducted in the country except some fragmented studies,
carried out in some part of the country.
The available data on child labour does not differentiate between harmful and beneficial type of
Child labour. Moreover, statistical records do not consider activities performed by children who
are enrolled in schools even if they are paid for it. Furthermore it does not cover the child time
spent working and does not identify also the different types of child labour. Therefore, the study
will give practical insight to the situation of child workers in the informal sector in the area.
Primarily by assessing the effects of child labour on the wellbeing and development of the child,
the research will unravel the invisible forms of child labor that are harmful to the development of
the child and secondly it creates awareness to the public and policy makers as well.
Finally, very little is known about causal factors (demand and supply) that cause child labour
that is specific to the study area. The research will give information on the causal factors, which
are particularly relevant to the study area. And it will indicate directions for designing programs
to reduce child labour in the area and areas that need the government interventions, NGO's and
other bodies concerned for the safety of children in the study area and other parts of the country
that have similar socio economic and cultural background. Lastly, it will be an additional source
of information on child labour and it opens an avenue for further research in the area.
1.8. Concepts and Definition
Child Work in the informal sector is a complex issue that is difficult to define in simple terms. It
involves three terms, child, Work and Informal Sector that do not have a universally accepted
9

definition. In different literatures these terms are defined in different ways. To start from the
term child, the major criterion taken to define a child is age. However, a definition that takes age
as defining criteria has been severely criticized by researchers. One criticism is that universal age
criteria is not applicable for all societies since societies vary in their perception of the age at
which individuals are considered or pronounced to be adult. Furthermore, there is geographical
difference in terms of rural Vs urban and in relation to the type of the society. Next to this, there
might be variation in age limits in line with the sex of the child too. Other than this, using
chronological age as criteria has its own difficulty when it comes to deciding on the upper and
lower limit. There is variation internationally and within a country as well (Morice 1981: 135).
In some societies the fulfillment of socially defined criteria other than age is significant. For
instance, in the Western societies recreation and leisure time with no economic responsibilities
characterize childhood. The African child rearing practices however are different including the
values attached to it. In Ethiopia there are a number of Ethnic groups each with their own
‘definition’ of a child and different child rearing practices. An urban area, particularly Addis
Ababa, is a melting pot of people belonging to different ethnic groups. As a result, definition of a
child should take into consideration the social context the child is living. “A child is not
considered as an isolated entity but rather as a part of a system. Affected by and having an effect
upon his surrounding …a child behavior is reflective of his unique family and environment that
are strongly affected by culture and ethnicity” ( Slonim 1991: 31). So the term Child can be
perceived in different way depending on the culture and legislation's of a country.
UNICEF and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the child define a child as an individual who is under the age of 18. While the
Transitional Government of Ethiopia Proclamation No. 42 of 1993 defines a young worker as a person who has attained the age of 14. UN
defines a child as a person below 15 years with the exception of especially circumstances that set the limit up to 14-year (Minimum Age
10

Convention 1973 No. 138). Still there is confusion on deciding on the upper and lower age limits of the definition of children. For this study the
cut off point is 17 years.
The second term is Work- which is defined as ‘ a simple exertion of physical or intellectual
energy’ (Morice 1981:135). There are different views in defining work. ILO defined work as an
economic activity that refers to any activity that contributes to the GDP of a country based on the
criteria set by SNA (System of National Account). The definition of economic and therefore
labor force activity is very broad since it is based on the United Nations System of National
Income Account Statistics (SNA) definition of ‘economic’ goods and services. Based on this
definition “the production of economic goods and services includes all production and
processing of primary products whether for the market, for barter or for own consumption”
(Myers 1998:12).
Child Work: refers to time spent in home maintenance chores as well as in moneymaking
activities inside or outside the home. Child work is free of any previous judgement about its
value or effect on children (Myers 1998).
Child Labour: A child is classified as a laborer if the child is economically active at early age
internationally or at national level as well. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia treated
child labor as follows
“below 14 are not allowed to work and that employment of young
workers between 14-18 years of age is restricted to apprentices under
several restrictions such as a maximum amount of seven working hours
per day, a prohibition of over time work and night work (i.e. between 10
p.m. and am) and a prohibition to work on weekly rest days and public
holidays " (Labor proclamation No. 42 of 1993 Article 89/4).
11

The legal implication in Ethiopia therefore is that if a child is engaged in work violating the
restricted activities, stated in the above quotation, it is considered as child labour.
Informal Sector: Informal sector is a controversial issue and still as such there is no universally
accepted definition as to what the informal sector is. The term appeared first in the report of the
ILO’s comprehensive employment mission to Kenya, which visited that country at the request of
its government in 1972. The mission found out that the major problem in Kenya to be not
unemployment rather the existence of large numbers of ‘working poor’, whose activities were
not recognized, recorded, protected or regulated by the public authorities. This event was defined
in the report as the informal sector (ILO 1991:1). In the case of Ethiopia, the Central Statistic
Authority and ministry of Labour and social affairs, defined informal business sector as follows
"home based or individual establishment activity operated by the owner
with few or no employees…these establishment or activities include those
engaged in market production which are not registered as companies or
cooperatives which have no written book of accounts and which have less
than 10 persons engaged in the activity”(CSA 1997:1).
Operational Definition
Child Work and Child labor: in this study, these terms are used interchangeably with no
difference in meaning to denote the economic activity of children in the area.
Home Based Enterprises: are defined as establishments in which weaving is carried out for
the market and own consumption. The enterprise is located in households and
depends on own or family or hired child labor. It employs manual skills and
traditional technology.
12

Home Based Enterprise Operator: refers to the owner of the home based enterprise and the
operator is also refered as the employer in the study.
Informal Sector: it refers to the home based enterprises that are engaged in the production of
traditional clothes production.
Pit-Loom: is a traditional technology used for weaving purpose. It is an instrument that is
made of wood used for weaving traditional Ethiopian cloth.
The Child: in this study the word child refers to those children who has not attained 18 years
and it excludes children who are less than five years old, in short it includes
children within the age group of 5-17. This age limit is adopted in consultation
with the community and the legal framework of the country.
Weaving: as defined by Encyclopedia Americana, is the interplay of two sets of threads at
right angles of each other so as to form a web of fabrics.
Work: refers to the activities performed by the child or home-based enterprise operator in the
production of traditional cloth production. These activities include spinning, making yarn and
weaving materials to produce different types of garments.
1.9. Organization of the Study
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The paper is organized in two major parts; the first part comprises three chapters. The first chapter deals with the introduction part and the second
chapter describes the study area and the methodology used to collect information. The third chapter reviews related literature, first by clarifying
conceptual issues and by reviewing causal factors suggested by different authors as the major causes of child labor. It then discusses different
types of child labor. The second part of the paper has two chapters i.e. the fourth and the fifth chapter. The fourth chapter discusses the major
findings of the study and in the fifth chapter the major findings of the study are summarized along with concluding remark. Finally practical
recommendations and areas of further study are highlighted.
1.10. Limitation and Problems Encountered
Originally the study was planned to investigate the children’s family income. However the
study found out that most of the working children came from the Gamo-Gofa area and they
do not have full information about their family’s income.
Due to time and financial constrains the study covered only those children who are engaged in weaving activities and did not include
children who are engaged in other activities and also institutions since it requires more finance and time. And this is was not possible with
the given resource at hand.
During the fieldwork, there was a discrepancy between the sampling frame and the practical
reality. Those home based enterprises perceived to be engaged in weaving activities were in
some cases non-existent. This was mainly caused due to the high mobility of residents and
due to change of addresses.
Some home based enterprise operators were hostile and were not willing to let the children
participate in focus group discussion.
2. METHODOLOGY
2.1. Data collection techniques
PART TWO
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Child labor is a complex issue, which require different methods. The study employed a child-
centered research, which used different approaches in a complementary way. Conducting
research among children is far different from researching adults therefore at most care and
attention was taken to reach out and win the trust of the children to elicit the required
information. Both secondary resources and primary data are used as a source of information.
2.1.1. Secondary Resource
Information was collected from documents issued by international, National NGOs (DOC, WVI)
, government. Official documents and unofficial documents, academic literature, International
Labour office publication, national legislation, official information like Informal sector survey,
census, Labour Survey, etc was used as a stepping stone to start the research and collect relevant
information in the area.
2.1.2. Primary data
Different methods to collect primary data were employed. The major instrument being survey,
other techniques including observation, focus group discussion, key informants interview and
photography was applied to explore and analyze work experience of child workers as well as
their employers and to find out some factors which are usually hidden from the public scrutiny.
2.1.2.1. Observation and Key Informant Method
Initially Observation was one of the instruments used to enrich the information gathered through
secondary resources. Following this the researcher applied more informal semi structured
15

interviews of key informants (People who have knowledge in the area) before conducting the
survey to design appropriate questionnaire which is applicable in the area.
2.1.2.2. Focus Group Discussion
Focus group discussion was conducted to fill in the gap of information that was not covered by
the survey and also to validate the survey findings. The participants of the focus group includes
community members who lived in the area at least for five years and individuals who are
engaged in weaving, kebele officials, and school teachers. Though there was a plan to conduct
focus group discussion with the child worker as well, the employers were not willing to let them
go out of the vicinity of their residence.
2.1.2.3. Survey Method
Survey was conducted to inquire about the characteristics of the child and the employers, work
environment, Working conditions, employment mechanism and reason for child labour
participation in the area as well as its impact on the development of the children. The survey is a
cross sectional survey that employed structured questionnaire that was administered by
enumerators.
The sampling unit is the home based enterprise that refers to the households who are engaged in
weaving activities. The unit of analysis is the children who are working in the home based
enterprises. The questionnaire had two parts for the child worker and for the home based
16

enterprise operator. The home based enterprise operator is an adult who is engaged in weaving
during the time of the interview who can be employer, parent, guardian or relative.
Sampling Techniques
Sampling Frame
To select a sample for the study, sampling frame is required for selection of different sampling
unit. The researcher employed a two stage stratified sampling technique. The list of Kebeles
with the corresponding number of household and the list of households in the selected kebeles
were the sampling frame. Initially two kebeles were purposely selected from woreda 11 using
population size and the number of weavers in the kebele as selection criteria. Accordingly two
kebeles were selected Kebele 23 and Kebele 19 taking into account the concentration of informal
sector operators, distance, population size and accessibility of the Kebeles.
Originally the plan was to use the list of households engaged in the informal sector kept by the
two kebele as a sampling frame. However the kebele registration list isn't a complete one and at
the Woreda level only the finance keeps a record of only those who are registered enterprises it
was impossible to stratify the population with the given information. Therefore the only
legitimate approach was to conduct home-to-home registration to prepare the sampling frame.
Fortunately one of the NGO’s (World Vision International Ethiopia Urban Area Development
Program) operating in kebele 23 has collected a household profile on 2000 households. With
their permission sampling frame was prepared using the list of the households. According to the
17

survey, 1271 household heads depend on weaving for a living or home based enterprises. The
kebele is divided in to five Zones and proportional number of home based enterprise for each
stratum (Zone) was selected using systematic random sampling techniques to form the final
stage-sampling unit. The distribution is presented on the table. This way the sample of
respondents were selected using stratified sampling design is employing involvement in weaving
activities as the stratifying factor and systematic sampling as the method of selection.
With the given time and expense to conduct home-to-home registration for the other Kebele was
beyond the capacity of this research. Further taking into account the homogeneity of the
population and the concentration of weavers in Kebele 23 and the size of the population it was
find to be rational to limit the scope of the study in one kebele.
Sample size
The size of the sample is greatly affected by or it is a function of different factors. The major
ones are cost of the survey, time, and level of aggregation and logistical feasibility. These are
statistical design that can be used to determine the sample size however cost and levels of
precision play a determinant role. Considering this fact and the homogeneity of the community
the researcher decided the sample size not to exceed 129 home based enterprises.
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Table 1. Sample Size
Zone Number of households who are engaged on
weaving
19
Sample size
(10%)
One 148 15
Two 290 29
Three 125 13
Four 163 16
Five 539 54
Total 1271 127
Source: Survey conducted by DOC in 2000.
From one home based enterprise the home-based enterprise operator and the child worker are
interviewed. The sampling technique used to draw the samples in the survey is sampling
proportional to size technique. In regard to key informant selection the researcher purposely
selected in consultation with the Kebele Official and NGO’s operating in the area using
judgment-sampling technique.
2.3. Data Collection on the Field
Identifying and Contacting Stakeholders

The first step the researcher took was to officially introduce the purpose of the research to the
Woreda Officials and submitted a letter introducing the purpose of the research and requesting
the Woreda to write an introductory letter to Kebele 23. Which they did with this the researcher
contacted the Kebele officials and enlightened them to the purpose of the research. Though they
expressed their willingness to cooperate their action in the next steps of data collection due to
there over burden could not participate as they promised initially. Next to this NGO’s, CBO’s
operating in the area were identified and contacted. In the kebele two International NGOs
(Daughters of Charity (DOC) and World Vision International Ethiopia) are operating in the area.
Recruiting and Training Enumerators
Six Enumerators who are college students were recruited. Efforts were made to keep the gender
balance and also two of them were residents of the area and they speak the Gamo language. The
researcher to train the enumerators and acquaint them to the questionnaire conducted a one-day
training. After this sampling frame was prepared from the data acquired from World Vision
Ethiopia.
After the enumerators internalized the questionnaire a pilot test was conducted on 20 employers.
The result was not as expected the employers were not willing to give information. So the
researcher had to devise another scheme, again the data collectors were organized in two teams.
One team has two enumerators and one team leader who speak the Gamo language. The team
leader facilitates for the enumerators since he speaks their language it was possible to win their
trust to administer the questionnaire and one of the enumerator interviewed the child, picking
20

andomly from those who are working during the time of the interview while the other one
interviews the employer or guardian simultaneously. In the mean time the team leader proceeds
in identifying the houses included in the survey. This way it was possible to collect the required
information. It took the enumerators about ten days.
2.4. Data Analysis
The collected Data is organized systematically using both quantitative and qualitative data
analysis techniques. The Quantitative data collected for the survey from the sample site is
analyzed employing SPSS PC Statistical Package for Social Science. Two level of analysis was
applied. In the first level simple descriptive statistics like ratios, percentages and means were
applied. In the second level of analysis relationship between important variables are established.
The research attempted to pursue new lines of investigation by analyzing and organizing the
collected data to investigate the relationship that exists between the variables. So that meaning
full interpretation, which leads to sound and reliable conclusions, was made based on the results.
2.5. Description of the area
2.5.1. Location
‘Shero Meda’ area is located in the northern part of Addis Ababa under the foot of ‘Entoto Mountain’. Topography of the area is mountainous
and rugged with unkempt feeder roads. It is part of Woreda 11 of Zone 4. The woreda has 15 Kebeles and in terms of size it is one of the largest
Woredas in Addis Ababa. The area Commonly known as ‘Shero Meda’ area includes Seven Kebeles, namely Kebele 23, Kebele 19, and Kebele
01-05.
2.5.2. Population
Currently, in the year 2002, the woreda population is estimated to be about 125,638 out of which 64075 (51%) are male and 61563 (49%) are
female, this is calculated from CSA 1994 report assuming 3.8% annual growth rate . According to the Woreda council, the Woreda is 32 square
kilometer in size. Taking this figure in to account the population density of the Worda is about 3926 persons per square kilometer. In Addis
Ababa the population density is 9300 persons per square kilometer. Compared with this figure the woreda isn’t one of the densely populated
Woredas in Addis Ababa.
2.5.3. Ethnic Group
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The Ethnic composition of the Woreda is dominated by the Amhara (53.58%) followed by the SNNP and Oromo with 26.4% and 14.6%
respectively. The Tigre people make up only 3.8% out of the total population (Ermias 2000:34). This distribution is different from one kebele to
another. For instance large number of people belonging to SNNP are found in Kebele 23 and 19.
2.5.4. Economic Activities
In ‘Shero Meda’ area significant proportion of the population is dependent on weaving and selling traditional clothes. The Woreda “It is known to
be the home of Artisans mainly weavers and Potters. Woreda Council sources indicates that in some of the Kebele (such as 19 and 23)
more than two third of the population live on weaving” (Ermias 2000:34). Households in ‘Shero Meda’ area use children in weaving and
increasingly more children are engaged in the activity. Out of the economically active population civil Servants, petty traders and private
business owners make up 14.2% , 41.6% and 4.2 % respectively
2.5.5. Social Service Provision
In terms of social service provision there seems to be enough supply of electricity while there is shortage of water supply. According to the
survey conducted in the area only 70% of the population in the Woreda have access to clear water. In the Woreda there are 17 schools and One
hospital, one health center, 6 clinic and 4 health posts in the Woreda. Considering the size of the population the area has shortage of health and
sanitation facilities. In regard to other services like postal service and the telephone service, it is very limited (WVE 1999).
22

3. Literature Review
3.1. Early Theoretical Ideas
PART THREE
Pioneer thinkers in the area of child labor include Karl Marx, Alfred Marshall and Arthur Pigou . Marx writing during the time of high incidence
of child labour in fact suggested that with new technology inventions especially machines the tendency to employee children who are in the
process of growing up but who are perfectly capable of managing the machines was high among. Marx argues that this affects the investment in
human capital in the long run (Basu 1999:20).
On the other hand, there were miss guided perception ‘myth’s detected on literatures on child labor, which lacks empirical evidence. The first one
refers to the ‘myth’ that considered child labour as the only problem of developed countries. While the second one refers to the myth which
considers child labour to be the result of poverty which is invisible and cannot be stopped and the third one refers to the perception that child
workers are engaged in a very easy work. The fourth one refers to the suggestion that there is a simple solution or way-out that eradicates child
labor completely through trade fair. Which later on were disproved through research findings (UNICEF 1997).
Historically there were times when child labour was considered as harmless. However when the
number of child workers increased in the 19 th century opposition against child labour also
increased. By the end of the century child labour declined in the industrialized countries. As to
the factors that contributed for the decline of child labour as such there is no agreement.
However some of the measures taken include legislative acts like banning child labor and also
the establishment of compulsory education restricting the full time work engagement of children.
Further more the economic development that occurs all over America, Europe and Japan enabled
parents to sustain without the economic contribution of children to support their families. These
factors did not contribute equally for the decline of child labor all over the world, for instance in
Belgium child labor declined with no legislative act. While in Manchester the legal act
contributes for the decline (Basu 1999:13).
Awareness and concern for child workers has increased. One of the factors that contributed in
increase in awareness is globalization that created access to information by academician and
23

activists about the situation of children all over the world and goods produced in third world
countries using child labor.
3.2. Conceptualizing Child labor
3.2.1. Conceptual Frame Work
There is no simple definition of child labor as well as child work neither is there universally accepted criteria as to what constitutes child labor or
child work. On the literature there has been a semantic argument on the issue for long. The argument starts from the language usage itself since
many languages do not have words that consider child labor and child work separately. On the other hand some argued that the labour work
differentiation doesn’t involve the children themselves. As a result it is considered as ‘adult devised conceptualization’ that neglected the view of
the children themselves (Ennew 1994; Myer 1998;IWGCL 1998)
To address this confusion many suggestions have been developed. Whites have developed continuum model arguing that it is better if both child
labour and child work is dropped. He argues that the term child labour is an emotionally toned word and usually it is identified with abolitionist
approach. He developed his argument by saying the labour work distinction is too simplistic which don’t show the real face of child labour.
Further he argues that even if we are able to delineate between child work and labour. In most cases since the defining criteria are not specific the
economic activities of children will fall with the work category and it will be difficult to identify between types of work. White concludes by
saying “attempt to distinguish between labour and work will end up by being too concrete, too specific, too contradictory, too illogical and most
importantly, out of in touch with view of children” (IWGCL 1998:37).
According to Whites the intolerable form of children’s economic participation is not to be
tolerated with or without any kind of modifications. This in most cases refers to child
prostitution, child slavery, kidnapping and bonded labour. Next to the intolerable forms of
children economic participation is detrimental or hazardous form of employment. Following this
is the neutral and positive beneficial forms of employment. The first refers neither to the
detrimental nor beneficial forms of children employment while the latter one refers to the
beneficial forms of employment. He further suggests that there is a need to establish criteria to
identify the position of economic activities on the continuum. Even though the model is a
universal one when it comes to implementation it takes into considerate the cultural context in
which the economic activity is taking place.
The model is not without limitations as well. Whites acknowledge the fact that it is difficult to identify clear representative criteria’s to clearly
position the economic activity in the continuum. However its major limitation is its failure to define clearly what is beneficial or detrimental. It is
24

criticized by researchers “while it seems to have been accepted that a simplistic dichotomy is no longer viable we may have replaced one
semantic argument about labour-work with another labour intolerable –beneficial”(IWGCL 1998:38) the model should address this as well
Another model is developed by Mckechie and Hobb’s , these authors argued that the debate
regarding child employment dwells on general claims rather than establishing applicable
operational definitions. The authors argued that there is a gap in indicating an operational
definition of harmful and beneficial employment. If this is done it will be easier to investigate the
situation under which harmful and beneficial types of child labour occurs.
Mckechie and Hobbs’s Balance Model
Costs ‘Bad’ Benefits ‘Good’
_______________________________________________________________________
*Health and safety *Autonomy
*limits free time *Self reliance
*Negative effects on education *economic business knowledge
*Instrumentalism *work experience
*Less parent /peer contact
Source: Adopted from International Working Group on Child Labour Publication in 1998: 41 .
Mckechie and Hobb’s developed ‘balance model’ which takes into consideration the cost and
benefit of work by establishing a relationship with child employment. The question that needs
further investigation is to identify what tips off the balance in any direction that is between the
cost and benefits of work. They argued that to investigate the factors that influence the balance
between the cost and benefit of work, variables like the number of working hours, types of work,
25

gender, age and when the ‘hours are worked’ should be investigated. Further the assumption is
that these variables will have an influence on one another.
One of the advantages of this model is the fact that the variables that are cited in the balances as well as those which affect the balance can be
researched, operationalized and clearly defined. Secondly, the model has a room to exercise a degree of flexibility since the balance itself is
defined with in the context of the area under investigation. The variables are not universally designed rather the socio economic cultural context
defines the important variables to be included.
This model has a limitation as well, for instance there is no mechanism out lined to weight the
variables. That is which factors or variable is more important than the other. Nevertheless this
kind of model helps researchers as well as practitioners to move away from semantic argument
as to what constitute child work or labor and to make an inquiry on the nature of child labor and
experience of work. Next to this it provides a framework that can be applicable across different
cultures and countries found at different development stage be it in developed countries or least
developed countries. Finally it indicated that there is no one solution to child employment that is
applicable to all countries with different socio-economic background rather the solution might
vary in accordance with variation in culture as well as socio economic status of the society in
question.
3.2.2. Framework for Measurement
Concern about children who are engaged in work has increased recently. Anker summarized the
concern for children into concern for the protection of children or humanitarian, the development
of children, economic and labor market impacts of child labor (Anker 2001:257 ).
Protection of Children
26

To start with the protection of children is the most important issue that caught attention of all
agencies concerned about the safety of children (Anker 2001:258). The need arises to protect
children when the work they are doing is hazardous for their growth.
Hazardous Work
Child work is considered to be hazardous or detrimental to the development of children when it
affects the physical, cognitive, emotional, social and moral development of children negatively.
Physical development refers to the overall health coordination strength, vision, hearing etc that
are required by the child to pull through childhood and also contribute into adulthood. Cognitive
development includes all knowledge including literacy, numeric basic cultural knowledge,
vocational knowledge etc which contributes to the intellectual development of a child.
Emotional development deals with self-esteem, family attachment feeling of love and
acceptance, which plays a very important role in the child's adult life. Finally Social and moral
development, a sense of group identity, capacity to work in harmony with others, respect for
laws etc. This is well expressed in Dorothy famous poem Children Learn What they
live 2 (Bequele 1995:7).
2 If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn; If a child lives with hostility, He
learns to fight; If a child lives with ridicule, He learns to be shy; If a child lives with
tolerance, He learns to be patient; If a child lives with encouragement, He learns
confidence; If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate; If a child lives with
fairness, He learns justice; If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself; If a
child lives with acceptance and friendship, He learns to find love in the world.(Slonim
1991:17)
27

Children can easily be affected by hazardous working condition, which expose them to physical
dangers and emotional abuse. Firstly children are Physically vulnerable to be engaged in work
environment which is harmful to their health; they can easily be hurt because physically they are
not fit for work environment and equipment's that is prepared and designed to be operated by
adults. Secondly what makes child labor significant is that it tampers the process of children
growth since children are in the process of growing up and childhood is a transitional period
from child hood to adulthood. .
Exploitative Work
Work becomes exploitative when children are engaged in work at an early age, when they work
long hours with low wage rate or no pay at all when they work under bondage in hazardous work
environment, when they are involved in a work which is repetitive for a long time and which
doesn't promote their thinking ability( ILO 1998:8).
Development of Children
Next to protection of children the concern is for the development of children. Children develop
skill throughout their childhood through formal mechanism or informal mechanism. Child labor
becomes an issue in the development of children when it interferes with the child’s schooling.
Not all participation of children in labor affects their schooling negatively. Even though there is
no doubt full time employment affect their education negatively (Myers 1998).
28

Positive Aspect of Work
Work by itself is not harmful to children and there are different reasons why work is beneficial to a child's well being. Firstly, work enables
children to acquire knowledge to develop skills from their parents or guardian. It is also assumed that through work children will develop
confidence, self-reliance, responsibility and positive self-esteem, and will slowly be acquainted to the ways of adult life (Anker 2000).
Writing and Reading skill
Education plays a major role in the process of growing up. The type of formal education
provides different from one country to another. There is some argument in the areas of the
relevance of formal education in developing countries in terms of its contribution to the child
development in terms of securing long term employment and preparing the child to learn to
adopt to the specific environment. Some of education is not geared towards equipping the
children with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to survive in a community they are
living in. However there is no doubt that every child should have to primary education (writing
and reading skills).
Economic Impact Of child Labour
The third concern about child labor deals with the economic and labor market impact of child
labor that occurs at micro, macro and meso level. A micro level refers to family income and the
issue of survival while the macro labor market and economic level deals with wage rate as well
as adult unemployment and economic development respectively. The assumption here is that
since child labor requires little skill the child worker displaces those adults with no or little skill
by doing the work with lower wage rates. Finally in the long run, a country’s future development
is in jeopardy if the children are involved in work instead of education compromise the future
generation. There will be no human capital, which is a backbone of economic development.
29

3.3. Causes of Child Labor
Child work is a universal phenomena however the nature of the work performed by children,
their working condition and the situations that pushed then to be engaged in work at early stage
of their life varies from one society to another. In general the causes of child labour are explained
in terms of demand and supply factors.
From the supply side the major factors identified are poverty, lack of educational opportunity
parents choice, children's choice, societal attitudes, the households risk management and
government policies with respect to social expenditure. Some of the factors that contribute to the
increment of child labour in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) are poverty, rapid population growth,
rapid urbanization, displacement of families, low investment in education, the failures of the
education system, political instability and lack of peace. UNICEF in it’s the State of the World
Children 1997 Report proposed three major causes of child labor. One is the exploitation of
poverty, the absence of education and the limitation of tradition (UNICEF 1998).
Poverty
The economic objective of household seems to be identical globally, primarily households aspire
to meet their basic needs to improve their current living standard, provide a better opportunity for
their children. And engaging their children in work is usually their last resorting to survival.
(WDR 2001). The living condition of households be it poor or wealthy greatly depends on the
amount of income.
30

The major factor considered to cause child labor is poverty. In Africa it is assumed that there will
be high child labour participation rate. There seems to be a direct relationship between income
and child labor participation rate. A study conducted in cote d’Ivoire in the 1960’s indicated that
in poor household child labor participation rate is high compared with other households
(Grootaert 1994:14). However at the same level of national income, we find countries with
widely different child labor participation rates, and countries with similar participation rates may
have widely different national income level (WB 2001 :1).Research indicated that more than
60% of the city of Addis Ababa population live below the poverty line. In general he found out
that 63% of urban population in Ethiopia live below 100 Birr per month (Getahum 1998).
Income inequality is high in the city of Addis. The household income survey indicated that the bottom 40 percent of all households received only
about 7 percent of total income while the top 20 percent received nearly 60 percent of both income per household and income per consumption
unit. A participatory research that was conducted by the government of Ethiopia in coordination with World Bank in the year 1997 indicated an
increase in the poverty level among the inhabitants of the city of Addis Ababa (Getahun 1998). This was manifested through a decrease in wellbeing
and social problems like streetism, prostitution, unemployment, crime, child labor which directly or indirectly contributes for the increase
number of children joining the labor force at early age.
The Absence of Education
Children have a right to education and to grow enjoying their childhood. There fore they should be released from work engagement that is
drudgery and exploitative “every child has the right not to be subject to exploitative practices, neither to be required not permitted to perform
work which may be hazardous or harmful to his or her education, health or well-being” (Federal Negarit Gazeta Article 36: 12). Though there is
no argument about the relevance of education to the development of children, educations, which do not equip the children to survive in their own
context lacks practicality. In addition to this even if there is access to education its quality matters in bringing a change in the lives of the poor. If
there is low quality of education the return to the poor is relatively low. It is also assumed that school going children do not usually work and the
other way round. But research findings in different places indicate that children who attend school work too.
Population Growth and Urbanization
To begin with Ethiopia is ranks in second place in terms of
population size from sub Saharan Africa. With a growth rate
of 3.1 percent particularly the urban population is growing
with a faster rate. The annual growth rate of Addis Ababa is 3
percent and the other urban center grew by 4.1 percent.
Those who are below the age of 14 make up more than 50%
31

of the population,. And in general the population under the
age of 20 accounts for over 58% of the population. The
country population is estimated to grow with in 25 years into
92 million taking in to declining fertility rate (CSA 1994).
Child migrants looking for jobs and a better opportunity, which is a far Cray from the reality,
contribute in large number for the increasing number of child laborers in the city. In the big
cities there are more opportunities for children to work in services and handicraft sectors than in
small towns and especially, rural areas.
Some studies indicated that the major factor from the demand side is low wage rate and the non-
replcability of child labor and the demand for child workers are high because some work is
considered to be suited for children only.
“Research on the cause of child labor tend to concentrate on
the supply factors, both because of a justifiable preoccupation
with the victims, the children, and because of the commonly
shared view that poverty is the driving force. But the demand
for child labor plays a critical role in determining the
involvement of children in hazardous work” (ILO 1998:18)
For a long time rational given by employer for using child labor was that there are a certain type of activities that are only performed by children
since children have ‘nimble finger’ which are suitable for jobs like carpet making and gem industries (Fyfe 1989). But research proves that adults
can carry out these activities as well (ILO 1998). However the major reasons are attributed to be the low cost labor of children.
Determinants of Child Labour
School Features
♦ School affordiability
♦ Cost of uniform
♦ School hours
♦ Return from schooling
♦ Child’s current return
Labour features
Child labor
hazards/exploitation
Duration/ timing of
32
External Factors
♦ Poverty
♦ The absence of
Education
♦ Population Growth
and urbanization
Home Based Enterprise
Operators perception of
opportunity costs of
schooling vs labor

Child Features
♦ Access to Health
♦ Intellectual
Development
♦ Physical development
♦ Psychological
development
Source: Adopted and Modified from World Bank Publication on Issues in Child Labour in Africa
2001:9
33
Child’s
attitude
towards
♦ Work
♦ School
♦ Tradition
♦ Employer
♦ The future
Final
choice
how
much
child
labour?

3.4. Types of Child Labor
Child labor can be classified differently using different criteria’s. On the basis of remuneration child labor is classified into paid labor and unpaid
work. It can also be classified as informal and formal based on the economic activity. From the earliest researchers Medelievich (1979) classified
working children as children who work independently, children who are paid on the basis of time or piece rate, apprentice children and unpaid
family labor. Medelivich classification overlooks bonded child labor that is the worst form of child labor. And UNICEF 1997 also identified
seven type of child labor these are domestic service, forced and bonded labor, commercial sexual exploitation, industrial and plantation work,
street work, work for the family and girls work.
Myers (1998) classify working children in to three broad classifications. The first one refers to
children in occupation or children engaged in work that is sentimental to their growth some times
refereed as the ‘intolerable’ forms of child work. The second broad classification refers to
children who are in a ‘Grey’ area who are at risk to be engaged in hazardous work. It doesn’t
necessarily refers to hazardous work rather thee might be a possibility.
The common classification used by money researchers is the classification based on employment relationship. According there are 5 major
groups cited in different literatures (fyfe 1985). These are domestic work, non-domestic and non-paid farm work, wage labor, employment in the
informal sector and bonded or tied labor.
Domestic work refers to work conducted by children at home. The activity performed includes baby sitting, cleaning, washing clothes cooking
etc. Even though these activities may not directly contribute to the income it affects the economy since it gives more free time for adults to be
engaged in other economic activities (Fyfe 1985). The type of activities performed by children is the type o work usually left for women and this
is dictated influenced by cultural factors and norms. Research outcomes indicated that in Africa children perform a larger share of the work at
home compared with children in other part of the continent. In Africa the type of child labor that is predominantly found in many African
countries is work carried out in the household than wage labor.
Bonded labour refer to a form of child labour in which the children are forced to work as a
result of debit owed by their parents and guardian to their employers. They are not free to leave
unless the entire debit is paid off. This is the most extreme exploitation of child labour. In most
cases children from the poorest of the poor are victims and one can equate this kind of child
labour with slavery (Fyfe 1998).
Wage Labour is a form of child labour in which the children are paid for their labour. It can take
different forms that are it can be permanent or temporary, formal or informal. In most cases child
labour is concentrated especially children who are paid a salary usually are found in the informal
34

sector “in small undertaking that are often not registered as such and that hence do not observe
the legal requirements as regards takes, social security, safety and health and so on.”
(Medelievich 1979: 30).
3.5. Policy and Legal Issues
The concern for child right is expressed internationally when the United Nations General Assembly adopts the convention on the rights of the
child in 1989. All countries including Ethiopia with the exception of Cook Island, Oman, Somalia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and
the US ratify the convention. Measures have been taken to protect working children from work that is detrimental to their well being.
“three major strategic approaches have been advocated ever since child
labor was recognized as a problem amidst of industrialization and
urbanization in mid-nineteenth century Europe. These are protective
legislation, in the form of minimum age status for employment,
institutionalization of compulsory schooling and, to some extent,
international trade policy”(Tirusew 2000:23)
However, the recent studies stress the fact that most frequently used prescription as a remedy for child labor
rarely helps the children who need it the most. Since it is not related to ‘the context with in
which countless children and their parents eke out their daily survival’ (Myers 1998:18).
Country Specific
The Ethiopian government has openly expressed its concern for the cause of children by ratifying the UN convention on the right of the child in
1991 and the parliament of the country has also ratified in 1999 the minimum age convention No. 138 of 1973 as well (Assefa 2001). Prior to that
the Ethiopian civil code 1957 prohibits the exploitation of children by their guardian as well as their parents and stressed the right of the child for
parental care as well as protection.
In addition to this, the labor law also prohibits children who are younger than 14 years to be engaged in work. While it gives permission to those
who are in the age group of 14-18 to be engaged in light work which do not require the children to work during the night or in hazardous working
conditions which includes underground work heavy weight lifting etc (TGI 1993). To monitor this "Child and Youth Affair Organization" has
been established under the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Bureau. But little progress is achieved in the area of child labor and another
Forum for Child Labour is organized under the leadership of MOLSA that includes NGO's and concerned organizations in 1999. It is early to
comment on its progress so far (Seyoum Gebre Selassie 2000).
35

PART FOUR
4. Major Findings and discussion
The major findings of the study are summarized and discussed in this section. Firstly, the characteristics of the child are discussed to answer the
question who the child is. The characteristics of the home based enterprise operators are discussed to answer the research question as to who the
employers are. The causes of child labor from employer’s perspective and from the child point of view, the reason for using child labor and the
reason for working is analyzed. To investigate the work environment under which children are working, the nature of the work, the work place
and the technology children are using is analyzed. Finally, variables that affect the cost and benefit of work in influencing the balance to tilt in
either of the two directions are discussed.
4.1. Characteristics of the child
In this section, to answer the research question ‘who are the working children?’ the
characteristics of the child starting from the age and sex, religion and ethnic group and place of
origin is discussed.
4.1.1. Age and sex distribution
The focus of the research being children, the respondents are within the age group of 5-17. Out of the total 127 children interviewed as it is
reported on table 3, the majority (58%) of the respondents are within the age group of 12-15. Those respondents who reported their age to be 15
have the highest number. The mean age of the children is 13 years. With regard to their sex
36

Distribution, as it is reported on Table 2, out of 127 children interviewed 117 (92 %) are male where as only 10(8%) are females. This clearly
shows the division of labor is based on sex, and that male children dominate weaving profession.
Table 2 Age and sex distribution
Age
Sex of the child
Male Female
37
Total
Freq % Freq % Freq %
5-9 5 4 - - 5 4
10-14 58 49 5 50 63 50
15-17 54 47 5 50 59 46
Total 117 100 10 100 125 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February, 2002
4.1.2. Place of Origin and living arrangement
The migration status of the children and whether the children are living with their parents or not is another important factor that affect the nature
of work performed by the children. The child is asked to state with whom he or she is living and 45 (34.9%) stated that they are living with their
parents and 55 (42.6%) said they are living with relatives while the remaining 27 (22%) said they are living either with guardians or employers.
During the focus group discussion and the key informants reported that the children are brought from the Gamo-Gofa area to undertake weaving.
Table 3 Place of Origin and living arrangement
Living arrangement
Place of Birth
In Addis Ababa Out of Addis Ababa
Total
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. %
Parents 32 91 13 14 45 35
Relatives 3 9 50 55 53 43
Guardians - - 3 3 3 2
Employers - - 26 28 26 20
Total 35 100 94 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002
As it is indicated on Table 3, out of the total number of children who are born in Addis Ababa 91% are living with their parents and only 9% are
living with their relatives. On the other hand out of those who responded saying they were born out of Addis Ababa, the majority (55%) are living

with their relatives. All of the children who are living with their employers are born out of Addis Ababa in rural areas. This indicates the majority
of the children are brought from their original home away from their parents either by relatives or employers to under take weaving activities.
4.1.3. Ethnic Group and Religion
The majority of the children who are the subject of the study are from the Gamo-Gofa area. Even though the children who belong to other ethnic
group like Amhara 10(8%) and Oromo 2(1%) are also available. But the majority 115 (91%) belong to the Gamo people.
Table 4 Religion and Ethnic Group distribution
Religion
Ethnic Group
Amhara
Oromo
38
Gamo
Total
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. %
Orthodox 7 70 1 50 88 77 96 76
Catholic - - 1 50 - - 1 1
Protestan
t
- - - - 26 22 27 21
Muslim 2 20 - - - - 2 1
Others 1 10 - - 1 1 2 1
Total 10 100 2 100 115 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher February 2002
The religious distributions of the children are similar to that of the enterprise operators. As it is indicated on Table 4 above, the majorities
98(76%) of the children are Orthodox Christians followed by the Protestant 26 (20%) and the other religious group as it is indicated on table 4
make up the remaining percentage. Their religious belief influences the children’s attitude towards their parents and guardians since the church
advocate obedience to adults with no opposition.
4.2. Characteristics of the Home Based Enterprise operator
4.2.1. Age and Sex distribution
Out of the total sample group of 127 home based enterprise operators (HBEO), the total number
of HBEO who are willing to be interviewed are 112. Out of this respondents, the majorities are

male 97(87%) while only 14(13%) are female that clearly show the domination of men among
the home based enterprise operators in traditional cloth production.
Graph 1. Age distribution by sex
Number of Enterpruners
25
20
15
10
5
0
source: Survey conducted by the researcher February 2002
The age pattern of the sample groups based on sex is presented on Graph 1. As it is depicted on
the graph, the number of male home based enterprise operator’s declines as the age increases and
the reverse is true for the female.
4.2.2. Place of Origin
The Home based enterprise operators were asked if they migrated to Addis Ababa with in these ten years time. Out of the total respondents,
73(66 %) reported that they migrated to Addis Ababa with in this ten years time. While 38(34 %) responded saying they have been residents in
Addis Ababa more than ten years. Among those who responded saying they have migrated to Addis Ababa, the majority 46(69%), migrated in
search of employment. The other reason given by the respondents include contract employment 11(16%) and to have access to education for
their children 8 (12%) while the remaining gave different answers.
4.2.3. Religion and Ethnic Group
Age Distribution by Sex
25 and less 26-32 33-40 41-50 51-60 61 and
above
Age Category
The main religion practiced by the respondents is as follows 92(81%) of the respondents out of the total respondents are Orthodox believers while
19 (17%) are Protestant and only two are Moslems. The dominant ethnic group in the area is Gamo and the Gamo people are called by
39
M ale
Fem ale

Anthropologists ‘Ethiopia’s artful weavers’ (Olmstead 1972). And in terms of religion, from the Gamo people, the majority 84 (82%) belongs to
Orthodox Christians. One of the interesting findings is that all of the Protestant believers belong to the Gamo ethnic group and from the total
respondents only 2(2%) are Moslems and they belong to the Amhara ethnic group.
4.2.4. Marital Status
When it comes to the marital status of the home-based enterprise operators 4(4%) are single, 4 (4%) are widowed while the majority 104(92 %)
are married. According to the key informants and some Anthropological studies polygamy is practiced in the area. “Some 300 miles from their
home land, Dorze craftsmen turnout the finely woven cotton cloth, …some of the transplanted weavers earn enough to set up second households
in the city-with extra sets of wives and children” (Olmstead 1973:131). Since weaving is seasonal, the weavers usually keep one home in the rural
area and another in the city or they leave their wives in rural areas and establish another home in the urban area that they usually keep hidden.
4.2.5. Income and Educational Status
The income of the respondents during last month along with the educational level of the home based enterprise operators is presented on table 2.
And out of the total number of respondents 53% are illiterates and 42% stopped their education at the primary level. Out of the total respondents
(HBEO), the majority 71(68%) reported their monthly income from weaving activities to be less than 200 Birr. Out of the respondents who are
illiterates, 37 (66%) reported their monthly income to be less than 200. Furthermore the respondents were asked regarding the educational status
of the children and out of the total number of respondents 42(38%) said there are school age children who are not attending school for various
reasons. One of the major reasons reported by 64% of the respondents for not sending children to school is so that the children could assist in the
home based enterprise work. The other reasons include lack of capacity to send all of the children to school since they cannot cover the expense
on schooling.
Table 5 Education Status of HBEO and monthly income from weaving
Amount in Birr
Educational level of the home based enterprise
operator
Illiterate Primary Secondary
40
Total
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. %

401-500 1 2 1 2 1 20 3 3
501-600 1 2 - - - - 1 1
>600 5 9 5 12 1 20 11 10
Total 56 100 44 100 5 100 105 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in 2002.*22 home based
enterprise operators were not willing to give information
concerning their income
4.3. Reasons for working
One of the objectives of this research is to identify the factors that forced children to be
engaged in work at early age in the study area. In order to identify the major factors that
forced children to work, attempts are made to analyze it from the child perspective as well as
guardians or employers perspective. Case studies are also presented to clarify the reason more
clearly.
41

Picture 2 - A migrant child working in the Home Based Enterprise
From the child’s point of view, the reasons given by the majority 83(64.3%) of the children,
both working for their own parents or guardians or employers, for participating in economic
activities is to assist their parents who are living in Addis Ababa or in rural areas. While 33
(24.8%) stated that their reason to be to gain skill while the remaining children said they
joined the labor force since they have no other option and there fore no one to support them,
they had to work as a means of survival
Case One
Her name is Timeheret and she is only thirteen years old. She was born in ‘Shero
Meda’ area. She has three brothers and two sisters. Her father is a weaver and her
mother is a housewife and she also helps her husband in his work by spinning the wool.
Currently She is the oldest child living with the family, her brother is living out of the
city. Since there is no one to assist her father in his work, sadly she had to give up the
school she loves and learn her fathers weaving skill.
Timehert started to help her father when she was 10 years old. She has been assisting
him for the past three years. In addition to the weaving activities, when she has extra
time in her hands she helps her mother by baby-sitting and also with the domestic work.
She rises up early before 7 and helps her mother in preparing food. Then at about 8:00
she joins her father and she works more than twelve hours after that. Since the family is
poor they cannot afford to hire another person to assist her father. Timheret is not
worried about the future and she does not care what the future holds for her too. She is
worried about how to Finnish the work at hand…
42

Case two
His name is Abdissa Asfaw and he is eleven years old. He was born out of Addis
Ababa in Arba Minch in Gamo area. His parents are farmers. His father stopped his
education in 9 th grade and his mother is illiterate. He has two brothers and three
sisters. He came to Addis Ababa with his relative who is also his employer. He was in
grade two when he was with his parents.
His relative who is also his employer brought him to Addis Ababa promising to
educate him and train him in weaving skills. As he promised he trained him in weaving
skill but he did not give him a chance to continue his education. Now he is working
more than eleven hours per a day. He thinks that there is hardly any chance of
continuing school.
43

Case three
Her name is Askale Kifle and she is 14 years old. She was born in Shero Meda area. She
has hour brothers and two sisters. The family depends on weaving for a living. She is the
second child in the family. The eldest child has left the house to live with relatives in rural
area because the family could afford to feed all of the children and he is old enough to do
farming. So she is the oldest child in the family and she had to assist her father together
with her brothers and sisters. They take turns in helping their father in the weaving
activities.
She is in grade eight but her result is poor. She said that it is difficult to follow the
teachers since she usually gets tired by the time she is in the school. She is responsible for
the housework as well as to do the spinning part, which is tire some and repetitive. She
attends school half day and she has to carry out the work before and after school. In
general she works more than 15 hours. She said that there were times she got sick because
of the work and she had to go to health center and had relief for a while until she was
better because she was weak to do anything at all. When she get better she had do what
Case she used Four to do as usual. She believes that the work she is doing is no help to her. She
His thinks name that is Meles it is because Meda. He of was the workload born in Gamo that she Gofa is a area. weak He student.
is 10 years old. His father
is dead when he was very young. He has four brothers and two sisters. The family
depends on farming and weaving activities. He used to assist his family by herding
animals. Since their father death the family could not support itself. He said that ‘no
matter how hard they were working there was no food to eat’.
His uncle lives in Addis Ababa and he brought him to the city. He started working when
he was six years old. Now he is working for him and he pays him 10 birr per week. He
usually works more than 10 hours and he said that the work is difficult and boring. He
never visits his parents. He did not get a chance to education and he cannot write or
read, he is illiterate. He does not want to live like this any more. All he wants to do in
the future is to attend school like the other kids he knows.
44

From the employer’s perspective, the major reason as per the findings of studies conducted in
other urban areas in the country is
“ In many ways urban life seems to offer, to the unsuspecting, a
vision of unlimited opportunity in terms of education, better health
service and “lucrative employment” …those who have, particularly,
established small or big business for themselves and in their quest for
cheap labor offer tantalizing opportunities in education, employment
and better life to rural children” ( Seyoum Gebreselasse 2000: 6)
(Italics by the researcher)
This has been reported to be true in the study area by the focus group discussants as well. In
addition to this, out of the total number of the home-based enterprise operators 60% said they let
the children work because they cannot afford to pay for an extra hand. While 25% said that they
let the child work because they believe the work is useful for the child. Only 5% said they are
training other children in a form of Apprenticeship
and 19% of the respondents gave other reasons.
4.4. The Nature of the Work and Work Environment
All of the respondents mentioned weaving to be the major activity performed in the area.
According to the group discussants and key informants those who are within the age group of 5-8
are usually engaged in spinning while those who are within the age group of 9-12 do some
weaving on the pit –loom. Children who are older than 14 years can work independently. In
addition the children were asked whether or not they assist in domestic work in addition to
45

weaving activities and 53(41.1) responded positively while 74(57.4%) reported saying they do
not assist in domestic work because the weaving activities fully occupy their time.
4.4.1. Working Place
The situation of the work environment of the children can be analyzed with in the context of working place, the technology applied as well as the
relationship to the home based enterprise operator. This also gives an insight whether the work environment exposes the children to danger that
affect their development, negatively or not. This cannot be analyzed separately from the working place since the enterprise is based in the
household it serves dual purpose.
For this reason, the number of rooms in relation with the household size is analyzed to see whether there is enough space for living as well as
working (weaving activities). The respondents (HBEO) who replied they are living and working at the same time in one room make
up 26% while those who reported their working as well as living place to be separated are 36 %. The average household size in the area is 6 while
the average number of rooms is 2. When one examines the size of the household and the number of rooms within the household, it is evidently
clear that there seems to be lack of space for the home based enterprises. Concerning, ownership of working place as stated on Table 6, 48
(42.9%) the home based enterprise operators are living and working in their own house, while 42 (37.5%) are living in a rented house from
private individuals.
Table 6 Ownership of Working Place
Ownership Freq. %
1.Rented from Kebele 9 8
2.Rented from private individuals 42 37
3. Owned 48 43
4. Debal 4 4
5. Rented from Government. 9 8
Total 112 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher February 2002
In addition to this, the opinion of the children to their work environment is assessed from their perspective; the point of their reference is their
previous experience. And out of the total number of children interviewed, 114(89.9%) found their environment conducive while only 13(10%)
found it to be not conducive. To indicate the nature of the work environment, the children were asked whether enough light is available in the
room and the majority 116(89.9) responded positively and in terms of space 34(28%) responded saying there is lack of space. The children sleep
and work in the same room.
4.4.2. Technology
The study area (‘Shero Meda’ ) is known for the production of traditional cloths . The technology used for the production of traditional cloth is
a traditional technology commonly referred as the pit loom. The tool is made of wood which can be easily operated and which is not expensive to
buy. Using the pit loom, the width of the material usually produced is around 70 cm and the weavers can produce between 3 and 5 meters plain
cloth per day.
46

Picture 3 The weavers using the Pit-Loom for traditional cloth production
According to the key informants and as per the group discussion one set of weaving equipment costs 120 Ethiopian Birr. As to the acquisition of
skill to operate this traditional technology, it is transmitted from one generation to another. The maximum number of weaving equipment’s (Pitloom)
owned by the respondents is six while on average a home base enterprise own 3 pit looms. From the total number of respondents 93(83%)
of the respondents own at least one pit loom. The weaving is done almost in all of the rooms. Particularly in the living room to see the pit loom
and people engaged in weaving is a common scene in the area. Some times they do the weaving outside their home using an open space available.
Picture 4 Working out side their home
An attempt was made to assess whether the children are able to operate the pit loom. Almost all 98% of the children confirmed the use of
weaving equipment in the process of their work and out of these children 50% said they can handle the pit-loom easily. While 61 (47.3%) said
they find it difficult to manage the equipment’s easily.
4.5. Employment
4.5.1. Employment Mechanism
From the total number of respondents 66 (59%) responded that they employ children who are not
their own. They were also asked to specify how they are able to contact the children. As it is
indicated on table 7 , the majorities 70% contact the children through relatives.
Table 7 Employment Mechanisms
Employment Mechanism Freq. Percent
Through Relatives 46 70
47

Through Friends 9 14
The children themselves contacted me 2 3
Through agents 3 4
Others 6 9
Total 66 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher February 2002
According to the key informants and the focus group discussants, the weavers have a strong
attachment to rural areas and when one leaves to visit relatives in the rural area, he/she brings
along working children for himself or herself as well as the other weavers. The weavers who are
in need of extra hand will inform these weavers who also work as traders to bring along a child.
Usually, those who bring along the children with them promise the parents that they or the
person who employ the children will teach the child weaving skills as well as formal education.
Furthermore they will send money for the parents in times of holidays. As such, there is no
contract that binds them to this agreement except the informal community tie. As per the group
discussants, on average the money sent by these weavers to the parents of the children is 20 birr
per year. And the children are under the mercy of their employers as far maintaining contact with
their families. The situation is worse for those who are not related to the employer. This indicates
that though it is an community it is a traditional one exhibiting rural features. The influence of an
extended family is strong and there exists urban-rural ties with their place of origin.
4.5.2. Number of employees
The home based enterprise operators who reported they have children working for them other
than their own were asked to state their number and 34(54%)of the respondents have employed
only one person while 15(24%) employed 2 while 8 (12%) employed 3 individuals. In addition
as reported by the home-based enterprise operators the average age of these workers is 15. To
assess the number of children working in a home based enterprise, the children were asked if
there are children who are working with them and out of the total children interviewed 87
(67.4%) of the children are working together with other working children including those who
are working for their parents. The maximum number of children working in one home based
enterprise reaches up to 8. On average three children are working with the respondent child
including the children who are working for their parents during the time of the interview.
48

Picture 5-children working in a group
4.5.3. Average Wage and Working Hours of employees
Out of the total number of the respondents who said they have other children other than their
own working with them 58% of them reported using paid labor while 32% said they use unpaid
labor. Attempts are made to see a difference between those who are paid and the unpaid labor in
terms of the time-spent working as per the home based enterprise operators’ report.
Table 8 Average working hours and Wage
Average
Working
hours
Wage
Paid Not Paid
49
Total
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. %
>5 - - 1 5 1 2
5-8 6 16 7 39 13 23
9-12 8 21 7 39 15 27
13-16 24 63 3 17 27 48
Total 38 100 18 100 56 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002
As it is presented on the table out of these respondents who said they are using paid labor 63%
reported saying the average working hours ranges between 13-16 while for those who are using
unpaid labor the average working hours for the majority (44%) is less than 9 hours.

4.6. ‘What Tips off the Balance’?
Work can be beneficial or hazardous for the child depending on its impact on the lives of the child, the impact in tern is affected by different
factors. The Balance model developed by Mekechnie and Hobb’s argued that the beneficial and detrimental aspect of work can be understood in
terms of the cost and the benefit of work in relation to child employment. The authors who designed the model argued that to inquire the factors
that affect the balance between the cost and benefit of work variables like number of working hours, types of work, gender, age and when the
hours are worked needs in depth analysis including their relationship with each other. And this will be the purpose of this part of the paper.
4.6.1. AGE
The focus of the study being on child work the actual average age of the sample group was limited to 5-17. The civil code of the country refers
children as minors and the word minor is defined as “a person who has not attained the full age of eighteen years.” (Civil code Arts 2, 904 :1063
). Since childhood is defined in terms of age, age is one of the most important variables that define the nature of the work performed by children.
In addition to this work becomes detrimental to the growth of children when they start to work when they are too young. To assess this the
children were asked at what age they started working for the first time. The majority 82
(65%) started working with in the age group of 10-14. Under Ethiopian law children who are under 14 are not allowed to be engaged in regular
work. There fore not only the work they are performing is hazardous to their development but it is also illegal.
As it is indicated on the table 9 below, the majority of the children 60% who are living with their parents started working when they are 10 -14
years old. From those who responded saying they are living with relatives, the majority (68%) started working with in the age group of 10-14 ,
this is also true for those who are living with their employers out of these children 69% started work while they are with in the age group of 10
and 14.
Table 9 Work Starting Age and living arrangement
Age
Living Arrangement
Parents Relatives Guardians Employers
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq %
5-9 14 31 12 23 2 67 6 23 34 26
10-14 27 60 36 68 1 33 18 69 82 65
15-17 4 9 5 9 - - 2 8 11 9
Total 45 100 53 100 3 100 26 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher February 2002
This indicates that relatively those who are living with their parent’s start work a bit early than those who are currently living with relative and
employers. Which indicates the fact that the children started to be engaged in work too early during the time of their childhood of which they
need the protection and care of their parents.
Further the children were asked for how long they have been working in their current working place, and from the total number of children the
majority 73 (59%) have been working in their present position for about two to three years, and 34(27%) have 4 and more than 4 years of work
experience.
50
Total

Table 10 Age and Work Experience
Age
Work Experience
1 month 1 year 2-3 years 4 and greater than 4
years
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. %
Six - - - - 2 3 - - 2 1
Nine - - - - 1 1 - - 2 1
Ten - - 3 20 3 4 1 3 7 5
Eleven - - 2 13 4 5 2 6 8 6
Twelve - - 3 20 10 14 2 6 15 12
Thirteen - - 2 13 9 12 1 3 12 10
Fourteen 1 50 2 13 13 18 4 13 20 16
Fifteen 1 50 1 8 14 19 8 23 24 19
Sixteen - - - - 10 14 8 23 18 15
seventeen - - 2 13 7 10 8 23 17 14
Total 2 100 15 100 73 100 34 100 125 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002 *two respondents did not give
their response
As it is indicated on table 10 out of these children who responded saying they have been working for the past two to three years currently those
who are less than 12 years old are 10%. Out of those children who reported work experience of four years and more 18% are currently less than
14 years old and 13% are 14 years old while 69% are with in the age group of 15-17 years. When it comes to working hours, as presented on
table 11, from the total number of respondents who are not yet fourteen years old 49(76%) are working more than eight hours.
4.6.2. Working hours
Next to age work becomes detrimental for the growth of children when children are engaged in
work for too long at early age. Even for adult’s 8 hours is the recommended time. And it is stated
on the Labour Proclamation, children who are under 14 are not allowed to work at all. While
children who are 14 and above are allowed to work seven working hours per day with a
prohibition of over time work and night work. To calculate the hours the child spends on work
the children were asked in different ways and the hours of work per day is calculated using their
response. From the total number of children 29% work for 1-8 hours in a day and out of these the
majority of them work for six days. And surprisingly 95% of the children are working more than
8 hours. Out of these children the majority 40% are working for 13-15 hours per a day and 29%
for 16-18 hours per a day.
51
Total

As it is presented on Table 12, 100 children out of the total respondents work more than 8 hours
per a day. From the total number of children the majority 87 (69%) are working for six days in a
week and out of these children 70% of them work at least more than thirteen hours per a day.
When this is calculated per hour in a week it is about to the minimum 78 hours per a week for a
child. Which is a very high number even by the standard set for civil servants that limits 40 hours
per week to the maximum.
Table 12 Working hours per a day and Working days per a week
Working
hours(per a day)
Working days per a week
Less than four five Six Seven days
52
One week
Freq % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq %
1-4 hours 1 33 1 3 4 4 - - 6 5
5-8hours 6 17 15 17 - - 21 17
9-12hours 4 11 8 9 - - 12 9
13-15hours 1 33 18 50 32 38 - - 51 40
16-18hours 1 34 7 19 28 32 1 100 37 29
Total 3 100 36 100 87 100 1 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002
Next to this those who reported saying they are working for five days in a week are 36(28%) and
69% of these children work at least 13 hours per a day. Most of the children work for six days
and out of these children those who work more than 8 hours per day are the majority 102 (79%)
while the remaining percent work 8 and less hours. In terms of working days almost all of the
children 127(98%) work for 5 days and more.
Total

Table 11 Age and Working Hours
Age of the child(
years)
Working hours
1-4 hours 5-8 hours 9-12 hours 13-15 hours 16-18 hours
Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq. %
Six - - - - - - - - 2 6 2 2
Nine 1 17 - - - - - - - - 1 1
Ten 1 17 1 5 - - 4 8 1 3 7 5
Eleven 2 32 - - 2 14 3 6 1 3 8 6
Twelve 1 17 4 19 1 8 3 6 6 17 15 12
Thirteen - - 1 5 2 14 6 13 4 11 13 10
Fourteen - - 4 19 2 14 9 19 5 14 20 16
Fifteen - - 8 38 2 14 11 23 3 8 24 19
Sixteen 1 17 1 5 2 14 7 15 7 19 18 15
Seventeen - - 2 10 3 22 5 10 7 19 17 14
Total 6 100 21 100 14 100 48 100 36 100 125 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002 * two respondents did not give their response
53
Total

As indicated on Table 11,the maximum time the child spends time in work is 18 hours. On
average the child works more than 11 hours. As it is indicated on the table those who are not yet
14(44%) work more than eight hours per a day. Further attempts are made to see whether
working hours is affected by for whom the child is working.
Table 13 Working days and for whom the child is working
Working days
The child is working for
Parents Relatives Guardians Employers
Freq % Freq. % Freq. % Freq. % Freq %
Less than four 3 7 - - - - - - 3 3
Five 14 31 18 34 1 33 3 12 36 28
Six 27 60 35 66 2 67 23 88 87 68
Seven 1 2 - - - - - - 1 1
Total 45 100 53 100 3 100 26 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher February 2002
As it is presented on the table above, out of the total number of children who are working for
their parents 60% work for six days. While 66% of those who are working for their relative
work for six days and 67% of those who are working for guardians and 88 % of the children
working for employers work for six days. From the total number of children interviewed 68%
work for six days in a week and the children who are living with their parents work relatively
lower number of days than those who are working for employers and relatives.
4.6.3. Wage
All of the children were asked whether they are paid or not and 104(83%) confirmed that their relatives or employers pay them while 22 (17%)
said they are not paid. Out of the female respondents 60% of them said they are not paid for their work while 84% of the male respondents are
paid for their work. The average salary paid to the children amounts to be 7.00 birr in cash per a week. In Ethiopia the minimum wage for daily
laborers is not fixed yet research is being undertaken to fix minimum wage. But in the market it ranges from 4 birr which is paid for civil servants
and 8 Birr paid by private and business organizations in the city of Addis Ababa (Consultation with the Labor Expert at MOLSA
In the study area, as stated on Table 14, the payment varies depending on the age of the child. Since the size of the work carried out by the child
is also affected by the physical as well as the mental development of the child that in turn is affected by the age of the child. Out of the children
who are paid for their work 23% are paid with in the range of 1-4 Birr per a week and 59% of them are not yet 14years old. Next to this out of
the total number of children who are paid 43% are paid with in the range of 5-8 birr weekly and 32 % are less than 14 years old. Thirdly, 28% of
the children who are paid their average ranges between 9-12 Birr and 20 of these children are less than 14 years old. While the remaining earn
more than 13 Birr . This clearly indicates that as the age increases the amount of wage paid to the child increases as well.
55
Total

Table 14 Age and Payment per Week
Age of the child(
years)
Payment Per Week
1-4 birr 5-8 birr 9-12 birr 13-16 birr 17-20 birr
Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq. %
Six - - 1 2 1 3 1 25 - - 3 3
Nine 1 4 - - 1 3 - - - - 2 2
Ten 4 17 1 2 2 7 - - - - 7 7
Eleven 2 8 2 5 2 7 1 25 - - 7 7
Twelve 3 13 7 16 - - - - - - 10 10
Thirteen 4 17 6 13 - - - - - - 10 10
Fourteen 1 4 10 22 5 17 - - 1 50 17 16
Fifteen 5 20 10 22 5 17 1 25 - - 21 20
Sixteen 1 4 3 7 6 22 1 25 - - 11 10
Seventeen 3 13 5 11 7 24 - - 1 50 16 15
Total 24 100 45 100 29 100 4 100 2 100 104 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher 2002
56
Total

Money Utilization
To analyze the implication on the future of the children their money utilization pattern is
examined. From the salary they are earning 5% gave all the money they are getting to their
family, 62% use all their salary for themselves while 7% give some to their parents while 16%
save their money, the remaining gave other reasons. Further the children were asked if they are
responsible for other family members and 36% responded saying they are responsible for other
family members.
4.6.4. The Impact of Work on Education
One of the indicators that show the impact of work on child development is primarily whether the child is attending school or not. Out of the total
number of children interviewed 51 (40.3%) are illiterate and 22(30.2%) are school dropouts. For those who are school drop outs the reason given
for dropping out of school is full time work engagement and preference of skill gained in work experience than education by the child or parents.
From those who are in school 11(8.2%) are in primary school, 4(3.1%) are in junior high while the remaining 22 (17.1%) are in high school.
As it is indicated on Table 15, out of the total numbers of children who are illiterate those who
are older than seven-year are 98% and from these the majorities are with in the age group of 12-
15years. In regard to school drop outs those who are between the age of 15-17 make up the
major share of the percentage 64% of the total number of school dropouts 91% of the school
drop outs are older than 9 years old.
57

Table 15 Age and Education
Age of the child in
years
Educational Level
Illiterate 1-6grades 6-8grade 9-12grade School Dropouts
Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq. %
Six 1 2 - - - - - - 1 5 2 2
Nine - - - - - - - - 1 5 1 1
Ten 5 10 2 5 - - - - - - 7 6
Eleven 4 8 3 8 - - - - 1 5 8 6
Twelve 6 11 7 19 1 - - - 1 5 15 12
Thirteen 7 14 4 11 - - - - 2 8 13 10
Fourteen 10 20 6 16 2 20 - - 2 8 20 16
Fifteen 8 16 9 25 2 20 - - 4 18 23 19
Sixteen 4 8 4 11 4 40 1 33 5 23 18 15
Seventeen 6 11 2 5 2 20 2 67 5 23 17 13
Total 51 100 37 100 100 100 3 100 22 100 124* 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002 *three of the respondents failed to give answers
58
Total

Other than age, place of origin is important factor that affects the educational level of the
children. As indicated on Table 16, from those children who are illiterate, 50 (98%)of them are
born out of Addis Ababa. And out of 22 children who are school drop outs, 16 (73%) of them
are born out of Addis Ababa too.
Table 16 Place of Origin and Schooling
Education
al level
Birth Place
Out of Addis Ababa In Addis Ababa
59
total
Freq. % Freq. % Freq. %
Illiterate 50 54 1 1 51 40
1-6grade 21 22 18 54 39 31
6-8grade 5 6 6 18 11 9
9-12grade 1 1 3 9 4 3
School
dropout
16 17 6 18 22 17
Total 93 100 34 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002
As to the time they are at school only one child is in private school attending school the whole day. While from school going children 33(25.6%)
attended government school half day and 15 (11.6) attends school in the evening. Further to analyze the factors that affects time of school
attendance, attempt is made to see whether time of school attendance is affected by the fact that whether the child is living with his parents,
relatives, guardians or employers. As it is presented on table 17, from the total number
of children 80(62%) are not attending school. Concerning the children who are attending school the majority 60% are living with their relatives.
Out of the total number of children, those who are attending school half day are 33(25.6%) and out of these 29(88%) are living with their parents.
Surprisingly from those who are not attending school 42 (53%) are living with their relatives and 22(28%) are living with employers. This clearly
indicates a big difference between those who are living with their parents in regard to the time of school attendance. It seems that the probability
of the child who are living with Employers or relatives attending school either half day or evening is lower than those who are living with their
parents.

Table 17 Living arrangement and time of school attendance
Living
Arrange
ment
Time of school attendance
The whole
day
Half day Evening Not attending
60
school
Total
Fre % Fre % Fre % Fre % Fre %
Parents 1 100 29 88 3 20 12 15 45 35
Relatives - - 2 6 9 60 42 53 53 43
Guardians - - - - 1 7 2 4 3 2
Employers - - 2 6 2 3 22 28 26 20
Total 1 100 33 100 15 100 80 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher 2002
Next to living arrangement the major factor that affect the education of the children is working
hours per day. As it is presented on Table 18, all of the children who are not in school 22 (17%)
are working more than 8 hours. And 96% of those who are illiterate work more than 8 hours,
actually the majority of these children 59% work between 13-15 hours. Even those who are in
school 56% work more than 8 hours. This clearly indicates that those children who are not in
school, either illiterate or school drop outs work longer hours than those who are in school.
Further attempts are made to assess the educational performance of the students as per last
semester result and out of the children who are in school, 24% had a very good result and the
majority 68% had a good result which indicates that the majority of the children who are in

school to be average students. In addition to their result, attempts were made to see their school
attendance. The respondents who are attending school were asked if they have ever been absent
from school and 23% responded positively and 17% responded negatively. Those who are
usually absent from school the frequency is indicated below varies 5% responded at least they
are absent from school once in a week. 5% responded that they are absent at least twice in a
week and 2% of the children who are attending school said they are absent from school once in
two weeks time. While 7% said they are absent from school once in a while. The reason for
absence from school as they said is too much work for 13% and for 5% it was sickness and the
remaining 3% gave other reasons.
61

Table 18 Working hours and Education
Educational level
of the children
Working hours per day
1-4 hours 5-8 hours 9-12 hours 13-15 hours 16-18 hours
Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq. %
Illiterate - - 2 10 1 7 30 59 18 53 51 40
1-6 grade 5 83 12 57 6 43 7 14 9 25 39 31
6-8 grade - - 4 19 3 21 2 4 2 6 11 9
9-12 grade 1 17 3 14 - - - - - - 4 3
School drop outs - - - - 4 29 12 23 6 16 22 17
Total 6 100 21 100 14 100 51 100 36 100 127 100
Source: Survey conducted by the researcher in February 2002
62
Total

In regard to school fee payment 33% responded saying that they are not paying for school
since it is free while the remaining of the children indicated that the parents, guardian or
employers are paying since they are attending either during the evening or private school.
4.6.5. Breaks and visits
From the total number of children interviewed the majority 126 (99 %) had weekly day off. Concerning visits only 31(24 %) of the children
responded saying they visit their parents. Out of these children 7% said during holidays, 9% once in a month 2% once in six month while the
majority responded saying they visit their parents annually. In terms of break during the day 92(71%) reported saying they take breaks while
the remaining 36(29%) said they do not take breaks at all.
The children preference in spending their spare time was inquired and
50% answered they would like to play while 9% responded saying they
do not have spare time while 12% answered saying they would like to
spend their time by studying. The remaining gave other reasons.
4.6.6. Health Impact of child Work
The children were asked if there is any physical illness they have experienced recently. Out of
the total children interviewed 59 (45.7%) responded positively indicating they have been sick.
Further the children who responded positively were asked if the sickness they have
experienced is related to the work they are doing and 8% said yes.
Those children who said they were sick were further asked if they were taken to a hospital or
a health center, to assess the children access to medical treatment. And 23% said they had
medical treatment from health center while 3% said they were taken to traditional healer.
When it comes to their medical fee the major share 12% said it was paid by employers and
8% said the parents covered their medical fee.
1

4.7. Child Attitude to work
In order to assess the attitude of the children to their work the children were asked their work
preference and only 11(8.6%) responded they would like to do weaving in the future while the
others gave different answers. Further they were asked whether they believe their work has
improved their well being or not. A good number of children 52% responded negatively while
48% said it have improved their wellbeing their reason is they were worse off in their
previous condition.
4.8. Relationship with the Employer
Out of 127 children interviewed 101 of them are related to their employer while 26
respondents said they are not related to the employer. The children were asked if they were
dismissed from their work and 12% responded saying they have been dismissed from their job
while the remaining said no. From the child’s perspective concerning the relationship with the
employer. The majority 54% of the children believes that they have a good relationship with
their employers.
Next to these children who are working with other children they were asked to describe their
relationship with the other working children and 73% said they have a good relationship.
While 11 % said they do not have a good relationship and the reason given by the majority of
those who said they do not have a good relationship is due to violence or beating by the other
children working with them.
2

4.9. Children’s and Employer’s Plan for the Future
The children were asked their future plan, significant number of children 97(75%) responded saying they have a plan to combine work and
education. While only 19 (15%) expressed their plan to continue only work. The remaining percentage gave other reasons. On the other hand
Employers were asked their future plan for the children and 55% said they will give the child workers weaving equipment’s to make him self
sufficient while 37% said they will educate the child. Both those who use child labour and those who said they aren’t using child labour were
asked if they have a future plan to hire children and 31% said they have a plan while 69%said no.
The employer’s attitude to the work performance of the children affects the employer’s desire
to employ other children in the future or to maintain the child worker in the present position
in turn, which affect sustainability of the work. And out of the total number of enterprise
operators 32% think that the children exactly meet home based enterprise operator’s
expectation. While 58% believe that the children job performance meets the employers
expectation fairly well while only 7 (11%) think the children’s job performance do not meet
their expectation at all.
All of the children were asked if they have been looking for another jobs (those who are
already employed or those who are working for relatives or family). Out of the total children
interviewed only 9%responded positively indicating that currently they are looking for
another job while 90% responded negatively saying they are not looking for jobs other than
the one they are engaged in be it in a family or relative or as apprentice. Which clearly
indicate lack of awareness on the side of the children concerning the presence of alternatives
and acceptance of the situation as their fate.
3

PART FIVE
5. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1. Summary and Conclusion
Child work is a world wide phenomenon however the nature of the work performed by
children, their working conditions and the factors that pushed them to be engaged in work at
an early age varies from one society to another. Despite the existence of different types of
child labor even in the informal sector, the study covered only those children who are engaged
in the production of traditional clothes in home based enterprises. The general aim of the
study is to inquire into the determinants and effects of child labor in terms of its impacts on
the development of children engaged in child labor in the northern part of Addis Ababa.
The first specific objective is to investigate the nature and magnitude of child labor in the
area. The study found out that the average number of children working in a home based
enterprise in the area, as per the report of the children, is three and the maximum is eight.
Most of the home based enterprise operators use child labor and 59% affirmed that the
children working for them are not their own. Concerning the nature of the work performed by
the children, all of the children are involved in weaving activities. The younger ones (5-9years
old) are involved mainly in spinning activities.
The second objective of the study is to identify the reasons that forced children to be engaged
in work at an early age in the area. Different factors worked together in pushing and pulling
children to work and attempts are made to identify the major factors that are peculiar to the
area. The major reason given by 64% of the children for entry into the work force is to assist
their parents or relatives or guardians. On the other hand, the reasons given by 60% of the
4

home based enterprise operators for use of child labor is because they can not afford to hire an
extra hand.
From the supply side, the major causal factor identified by the study, as a cause of child labor
is migration. Out of the total number of home based enterprise operators, the majority (66%)
of them migrated to Addis Ababa from Gamo area and out of these, 69% migrated to Addis
Ababa is in search of employment. The majority of the children 74% came from Gamo Gofa
area i.e. 550-kilo meter away from Addis Ababa. Even those who are born in Addis Ababa
belong to the same ethnic group. Only 35% of the children are living with their parents while
45% are living with their relatives and 20% are living either with guardians or employers. Out
of those respondents who are born out of Addis Ababa 55% are living with relatives while
31% are living with employers or guardians. The children are brought from Gamo area to
cover the weaving activities.
The other factor identified that pulls the child to work in the study area is the type of
technology that is used for the traditional cloth production by the home based enterprise
operators. It can be manually operated and can be handled by children easily. The work takes
longer time and needs large human labor to maximize production. The study findings
indicated that, in the study area, the low level of technology do not require highly specialized
skills. Thus the work can easily be operated and well managed with the capacity of a child.
This increased the demand for child labor that in turn made the entry of children to the work
force smooth.
5

Male children are engaged in productive activity and weaving is a productive work. Culturally
it is the male child who is eligible for this role. And this gender imbalance in division of labor
is confirmed by the study as well. Since only 10 (8%) of the respondents are female child
workers, it clearly indicates the domination of male in the weaving profession.
The third objective of the paper was to investigate the impact of work on the development of the child. Work by itself is not hazardous or
detrimental for the development of children. However there are factors that affects the employment of the child that make the work to be a
cost or benefit. The cost of child labor is high when it affects the development or growth of children negatively. This happens when children
start work at an early age and when the physical as well as their psychological makes up is not ready yet to handle the work. In the study
area, mostly 57% of the children started work within the age group of 9-12. The age at which children enter into the work force is affected by
their living arrangement. The majority 34% of the children who are living with their parents started work when they were 9 and 10 years old
while 30% of those who are living with their parents started work with in the age group of 11 and 12. This indicates that relatively those who
are living with their parent’s start work a bit early than those who are currently living with relatives and employers. The finding indicates that
59% have been working in their present position for about two to three years.
Next to age, the most important indicator to determine the nature of the work is working hours. Work hampers the growth of children when
they are engaged in work for long time. The cost of child work out weights its benefits when children are engaged in work that is
monotonous and repetitive for too long affecting the physical and mental development of the child. Even if the work is very simple and can
easily be managed by the child, if it is carried out for long it affects the mental development of the child negatively. Since childhood is a
process of growing up and learning and in the process of carrying out the same thing all the time the child cannot learn new thing from one
day to another. From the total number of children, 22% work 1-8 hours in a day and surprisingly 95% of the children work more than eight
hours. Out of these children, the majorities 40% are working 13-15 hours per a day and 29% for 16-18 hours per day. More than 98% (127)
of the children work for five days. Relatively, children who live with their parents work less number of days than those who are working for
employers and relatives. From the total number of respondents 46 (37%) who are below 14 years old 39% (76%) are working more than
eight hours a day.
In addition to this if the child is carrying out the work instead of attending school then it becomes a major impairment to the development of
the child. Out of the total number of children interviewed, 40% are illiterate and 30% are school dropouts. There is also a relationship
between school attendance and living arrangement. It seems that the probability of the child who is living with employers or relatives and
attending school either half day or in the evening is lower than those who are living with their parents. The migrant children have lower
access to education as compared to those who are born in Addis Ababa since 98% of the illiterate children and 73% of the school dropouts
are born out of Addis Ababa. Out of the school aged children (those who are seven and above) 42 (38%) do not attend school. The major
reason reported by 64% of the respondents for not sending children to school is so that the children could assist in the home based enterprise
work.
The fourth objective of the study is to assess the working condition that is working place under which children are working. And the study
found out that the majority of the children are working in a crowded room where on average three children using two pit-looms are working
in one room that serves as a living and working place at the same time.
The fifth objective of the study is to investigate the nature of employment of the children and their relationship with the employers. For this
purpose, before analyzing the nature of employment the study answered the research question who are the employers? The majority of the
employers are migrants from Gamo area. The main religion practiced by the respondents is Orthodox Christians and more than 92% are
married. In terms of education, 53% are illiterate and 42% stopped their education at primary level. The majority 68% reported their income
from weaving to be less than 200 Birr per month. Concerning their employment mechanism, out of those home based enterprise operators
59% of them have children who are not their own but working for them and 70% of them contacted the children through relatives. This
indicates the strong ties of kinship.
6

Concerning the working relationship with the employers there is no as such a formal
mechanism established to bind their condition of employment. All of the children who are
working for other individuals other than their parents reported the non-existence of formal
agreement except an oral agreement that took place with their parents. However the children
are not allowed to leave their place of work without the consent of their employers, which
makes the nature of employment a form of bonded labor.
The sixth objective of the study is to inquire the ways in which children benefit from the work
they perform. There is no argument on the fact that all of the children learn the art of
weaving. The study found out that 83% are paid in cash for their work and they are provided
food and lodging. The average wage per a week amounts to be seven Birr. In Addis Ababa the
average wage of daily laborer ranges from 4 to 8 birr. By any standard the children are being
exploited.
In general the children are engaged in work at a very early age and the wage they are being
paid is less than the minimum wage paid for daily laborers anywhere in the city. They are
working more than 8 hours per a day and the majority of them are illiterates and school
dropouts. They sacrificed opportunities for a better future. The majority of the children work
in hazardous and exploitative form of child labor.
5.2. Recommendation
Child labor is a complex problem that requires multi dimensional approach and there is no
one way of dealing with the problem. A number of approaches are developed in combating
child labor the first one being reducing poverty, providing support service for working
7

children, raising public awareness and legislating and regulating child labor. Though poverty
is one of the causes of child labor in a developing country like Ethiopia, however it is not the
only cause of child labor or is it a cause for all type of child labor in the urban informal sector.
The study finding indicated that the majority of the children are working under exploitative
and hazardous work environment. So the exploitation of children and children working in
hazardous work environment can not be ignored or tolerated under any circumstances. For
this purpose the work participation of children that affect their development should be given
priority. To accomplish this purpose protective, preventive, and rehabilitative strategies are
suggested.
Protection
The existing laws and conventions in our country serve the purpose of protection of the
working children to some extent. However, what it lacks specificity and enforcing mechanism
and institutional capacity to implement the laws. Further legislation with out enforcing
mechanisms are like toothless lions which cannot harm the enemy, in this case child labour.
Therefore a strategy should be developed to tap the available local resources and prioritize
areas that need immediate response at national level. Those children who need the protection
of the government through enforcing their right are those children who are working under
bondage and who are under 14 and employed full time as identified by the study. Further
practical experiences in Zimbabwe as well as Egypt indicated that there is a need to define
different age limit for different industries and different type of work, in this case for weaving
industry (for further detail see Fafo 1997).
8

In the situation where there is no other alternative for the children other than work attempts
should be made to improve their working condition. In this regard the Labour Inspection
Office should play a role in under taking labor inspections and forcing the employers to
improve the working conditions in partnership with NGO’s , CBO’s and the community .
Next to this the children should be paid for their work a reasonable wage and as such there is
no minimum wage established for all sectors at national level. So a minimum wage for their
work should be set at national level for different sectors, and specifically for the traditional
clothe production sector.
Moreover, inquiry should be made to identify the children who are working under bondage
and hazardous working conditions by establishing a reporting mechanism by the government
in consultation with the community (Woreda and Kebele Officials) since this is purely a
criminal act. Enforcement mechanism like imprisonment and fines should be exercised. For
instance in India, any one who exacts forced labour of a person is liable to imprisonment or
fines which reduced the rate of bonded labour. The Police and the Labour Inspection Office
should work together for this purpose.
Rehabilitation
Next to protect the working children there is a need to take actions for the rehabilitation of the working children. Firstly the study finding
indicated that the children are not attending school, and the major factor that competes with their time is work. There fore there is a need to
provide these children with education by establishing informal education for the children who do not have access to formal education in
consultation with the children themselves their employers and the community at large. It should be tailored to meet the needs of the child in
terms of time and reduction of cost. This cannot be achieved without the coordination and cooperation of all the stakeholders involved. The
government can facilitate this by coordinating non-governmental organizations operating in the area and community-based organizations to
utilize there institutional and technical capacities. The Woreda Education bureau can play as a coordinating office. Further the children
should be provided with learning materials and incentives should be given for those employers who are willing to let the working child
participate in the informal education to encourage the other employers to do the same. Practical experience in Kenya proved that indicates
that the informal school can serve as a safety –net for formal school dropouts (UNICEF 1992).
The Home Based Enterprise Operators are using a very traditional technology which is rudimentary and that takes a long time to produce a
piece of clothe and for the children to have spare time, new technologies should be introduced. FeMSSIDA has developed advanced weaving
machines that are not expensive. These technologies should be introduced for the weavers and for these purpose Micro Finance Institutes
9

operational in the area should be involved in providing these weavers Credit in Kind or cash. Besides skill Training should be given for the
Home Based Enterprise Operators and the children who are with in the age group of 14-17 to upgrade their skill and enable them operate the
machines easily. And also to decrease the demand for child labor by the Home Based Enterprise Operators.
Prevention
Finally the most important action is the prevention of child labor. The prevention measures
should start from creating awareness among the society as to the dangers of child labor and its
social ills. In the study area, child labor is accepted as a normal part of life. The society has
not recognized it as a social ill that gives the employers a full freedom to exploit children with
little cost. It leaves the child under the mercy of the employer with no protection at all. Thus,
the first step should be awareness creation on the right of the child to the child, the employers,
government bodies and the community as a whole through advocacy. The working conditions
under which the children are forced to work should be exposed to the public and also to
parents in rural areas. Child Forums should be established at the grass root level which
involve the community representatives, NGO’s, Idir, Weavers association representing
employers and working children too. This body should be capacitated and used as a body to
play advocacy role to reach out the larger community. The NGO’s working in the area and
also other NGO’s should be involved in playing this role together with CBO’s , Organizations
concerned for the welfare of the child and the government.
10

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Myers, W.(1998) What Works for Working Children, UNICEF and Radda Barnen, Sweden
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16

Annex 1
ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY
REGIONAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (RLDS)
ADDIS ABABA, FEBRUARY 2002
Questionnaire: This questionnaire is prepared to collect data on the
economic contribution of children in ‘Shero Meda’ area. The objective of
the questionnaire is to collect data on the socio-economic characteristics
of the children and the households, working hour’s etc. We would like to
assure you that there would be no value attached to it and you can be
confident that the information you will be providing will be used purely
for academic purpose. We would like to thank you for your cooperation
before hand.
Instructions for the Interviewer
1: There are different types of questions in the questionnaire. Some of the
questions have alternatives to choose from, for this kind of question
select the response given by the child then write the number given for
the specific choice in the box provided. But for the questions with no
alternatives, blank spaces are provided and please write the response
on the blank space.
2: Make the child feel at ease before proceeding to the question in
exchanging pleasantries
17

3: Reassure the child that the information will be confidential
3: It will be best if you do not leave questions unanswered.
Identification Particulars
Interviewer No…………
Time……………….hour………..Minute.
Date………………2002
Name of the area…………………..
Address: Wo…………Keb…………H.No…………
Questionnaire for the of Home Based Enterprise Operator
Characteristics of Home Based Enterprise Operator
1. Age of the home based Enterprise Operator
2. Sex of the home based Enterprise Operator
1=Male
2=Female
3. Marital status of the home based Enterprise Operator
1=single
2=married
3=widowed
4=divorced
5=separated
4. Religion of the home based Enterprise Operator
1=Orthodox
2=Catholic
3=Protestant
4=Muslim
5=others
5. Ethnicity of the home based Enterprise Operator
1=Amhara
2=Oromo
18

ID.
Code
3=Tigre
4=Guraghe
5=others,specify___________________
6. Educational level of the home based Enterprise Operator
0=illiterate
1-12=enter highest grade completed
13=highschool diploma
14=college diploma
15=first degree
16=Above first degree
II. Home Based Enterprise Profile: Age, Sex, Employment status, Education, Relation
Employees
Full name
(including
family)
Code X
Age
Code Z
to the enterprise Operator and type of Work
Sex
1=M
2=F
Code H
Employ
ment
Status
Code S
19
Educational
level
Code V
Relation to
the home
based
enterprise
Operator
Code Q
Type of Work
Code R

Code H Code V Code S Code R
Sex Education Employment Type of Work
1=Male 0=illiterate 1=unemployed 1=Weaving
2=Female 1-12=enter highest grade completed 2=employed full time 2=Spinning
13=highschool diploma 3=employed part time 3=others
14=college diploma 4=Pensioner
15=first degree 5=self employed
20

16=Above first degree
Code Q
1=Mother 7=Nephew
2=Father 8=cousin
3=Child 9=uncle
4=Wife 10=aunt
5=Sisters
6=Brother
9. If there are school age (6-15years) children who are not currently attending school
(refer the question above) give the reasons for not attending school
1=service is too far
2=cannot afford to send all
3=It isn’t important
4=to assist household work
5=Being handicap
6=others (specify)
III. Migration Status
10.. Was the household living in Addis Ababa ten years a go?
21

1=Yes 2=No
11. From the members of your household’s there anyone who joined the household in
Addis with in these 10 years time?
1=yes 2=No
12. If your answer is yes, to the previous question list the household members who
migrated to Addis Ababa with in this ten years time?
Household members (use
I.D. code from question
eight)
Year (in E.C.) Moved From where
22
1=Rural area
2=Other urban area

13. Reasons for migration?
1=in search of employment 5=family transfer
2=Contract employment 6=marriage
3=Education for children 7=others specify
4=famine
23

IV. Nutritional Status
14. How many meals do the people working in the home based enterprise take on
average?
People working in the home based
enterprise
1=Husband
2=Wife
3=Children

1=meat
2=Egg
3=milk
4=Fish
5=Fruits
6=Vegetables
7=Others,specify
1=husband
2=Female child
3=wife
4=Other family
members
5=Male child(you
can give more
than one answer
below)
1=Daily
2=once/week
3=2-3 times/month
4=once in a month
5=on holidays
6=Never
25

Enterprise Profile
V. Home Based Enterprise Assets, Working Place and Capital
16. Which of the following Assets do you own?
26

1= Electric ‘mitad’
2=Weaving equipment’s
3=Woven Materials
Assets Owned Please specify the number
4=Inputs for making clothes
5=Animals
2=Radio or Tape
3=Kerosene Stove
4=Table
5=Chair
6=Iron/Wooden bed
7=Mattress
8=Factory Blanket
9= Transitor Radio
10=TV set
27

11=Sofa Seats
12=others,specify
17. The working place you are living and working is ________
1=rented from Kebele
2=rented from private individuals
3=owned
4=debal
5=owned by relatives
6=rented from government
18. How many rooms does it have?
19. If it has more than one room, for what purpose are you using the rooms?
________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
28

20. What is the majour source of income to run the enterprise?
1=wage/salary
2=own business informal
3=own land
4=rent part of house
5=support form relatives
6=support from NGO or government
7=othe specify
21. What is the amount of income for the last month?
29

22. Do you have any other source of income in addition to the main one?
1=yes 2=No
23. If your answer is yes please state the amount per month?
24. Are you and /or members of your family engaged in other income generating
activities?
1=yes
2=No
25. If yes to the previous question in which of the following activities?
30

Activities Who is engaged?
Preparing and selling food
Selling woven
materials(weaving)
Petty Trade
Local Brewery (Selling tella …)
Street vendoring
Pottery making
Wood work
Basket making
Tailoring
Metal Work
Tannery
1=husband 4=Female child
2=wife 5=Other family members
3=Male child
(you can give more than one answer )
31

Others specify
26. Please indicate below the number of people working with you (those who are paid ,
not paid and excluding family members )
1. Children
2. Other
family
members
3. Apprentice
4. Employed
5.others,
Sex
1=Male
2=Female
Age
(Please write
the number)
32
Please write
the number of
working hours
Please indicate
if they are
1=paid
2=Not Paid

specify below
27. If under age children are engaged in income generating activities, what are
the reasons?
1=we need the extra money
2=it is useful for the child
3=Aprenticship
4=Paid labor
5=others, specify______________________________________________
28. If under age children are working for you(other than your children) Please explain
the reason why you prefer the children to work for you?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
33

29. How do you get the children?
1=they are relative
2=through friends
3=the children themselves contacted me
4=through agents
5=others, specify____________
30. Would you say the children or child meets your expectation in
performing his/her work?
34

1=exactly
2=Fairly well
3=Not at all
4=Donot Know
5=Not applicable
31. How would you describe the children or child’s(children working for you)
relationship with you?
1=very Good 4=Poor
2=Good 5=others
3=Fair
32. What is your plan in the future for the child or children working for you?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
35

________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
33. Do you have a plan to hire children in the future? Please specify your reason?
1=yes__________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2=No___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Thank You for your cooperation!!
36

I. Characteristics of the child
1. Birth Place
1=out of Addis Ababa (rural)
2=out of Addis Ababa(urban or town)
3=In Addis Ababa
2. Age of the child
3. Sex
1=Male
2=Female
4. With whom are you living now?
1=parents
2=relatives
3=guardians
4=employers
5. What is your religion?
1=Orthodox
2=Catholic
3=Protestant
4=Muslim
5=others
6. To which ethnic group do you belong?
Questionnaire for the child
37

1=Amhara
2=Oromo
3=Tigre
4=Guraghe
5=Others, please specify______________
II. Education
7. Educational level of the child?
0=illiterate
1-12=enter highest grade completed
13=highschool diploma
14=Not in school(school drop out)
15=others, please specify________________________________________________
8. If you are not in school what is your reason for dropping out of
school?
1=because of full time work engagement
2=the high cost of education
3=donot like school
4=Prefere the skill gained in work experience than education
5=others, specify________________________________________________
9. If you are attending school, who is paying for your education?
1= my self
38

2=parents
3= guardian
4= employer
5=It is free
6=others
1. In your opinion you consider yourself as___
1=very good student
2=Good
3=fair
4=Poor
5=others
11.Yor last Semester result was______
1=very good student
2=Good
3=fair
4=Poor
39

5=Repeater
6=others, Specify____________________________________
12.Have you ever been absent from school
1=yes 2=no
13.If your answer is yes how often?
1=once in a week
40

2=twice in a week
3=once in two weeks time
4=once in a month
5=once in a while
14.What is your reason?
1=sickness
2=too much work
3=lack of interest
4=others
specify__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
15.At what time do you attend school?
1=the whole day
2=half day (morning /afternoon)
3=evening
4=others, specify_________________________
41

16. If you attend school half day or during the evening what do you do with your
spare time?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
III. Health Status
17. Have you ever been sick?
1=yes
2=No
18. Is your sickness related to the work you are doing?
1=yes
2=No
(If your response id no please go to question 22)
19. If yes, did you get treatment for it?
1=yes
42

2=No
20. If your answer is yes, what kind of treatment did you get?
1=visited doctor
2=tradtional healer
3=health center
4=free medical treatment
5=Others,specify_____________
21. Who paid the expense?
1=my parent
2=my employers
3=it was deducted from salary
4=others, specify____________
IV. Attitude of the child to work
43

22. Do you like working at home or for other people?
1=yes
2=No
23. If No, Please explain
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________
24. Are there children working with you?
1=yes
2=No
(If your response is no please go to question 26)
25. If your answer is yes, how many are they?
26. Do you like the children working with you?
1=yes 2=No
44

27. If your answer is no what is your reason?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
28. What do you like to do out side working hours?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
29. Do you think the work you are doing has improved your wellbeing? Please give
your reason whether your answer is
No or Yes
1=yes________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2=No_________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________-
45

30. What is your future plan?
1=continu working
2=combine work and education
3=find another employment
4=other reason specify
31. In your opinion, your future is
1=bright
2=hopless
3=I don’t Know
4=I have no future
5=other
32. Have you ever looked for another job? Either way please explains
your reason.
1=yes________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
46

_________________________________________________________________
2=No_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
V. Employment History (Only for Working Children)
33. How old were you when you start working?
34. Why did you start working?
1=to assist my parents
2=to gain skill
3=I had no choice (forced to work by guardians)
4=I have no one to support me
5=others specify__________________________
47

35. How did you get the job?
1=my parents arranged it
2=Relatives coming from urban areas
3=Friend/neighbours
4=Through agents
5=by my own
6=others,specfy__________________
36. For how long have you been working in your present position?
1=less than a week
2=2 to 3 weeks
3=1 to 9 months
4=1 to 3 years
5 =5 to 10 years
6=unstated
48

37. Prior to this work engagement what did you do with your time?
1=Nothing (idel)
2=play
3=animal herding
4=school
5= domestic work
6=employed in another place
6=others
38. If you were working (even if you are not paid ) please describe the kind of work you
were engaged in?
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
39. If you were working for whom were you working?
49

1=independent worker
2=work on a family farm
3=work in family business
4=other employers
5=Working for Relatives
6=others
40. In your home do you help with the household chores?
1=yes
2=No
50

41. if yes, please describe the works you are doing at home?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
VI. The Nature of the Work
42. Have you ever worked for any one other than your family?
1=yes 2=NO
43. If your answer is yes, please indicate for whom you have been working?
1=employer
2=Relatives
3=Friendes
4=Government
5=Others, Specify______________
51

44. You are employed as_______
(you can give more than one answer)
1=Full time worker
2=Half day
3=Aprentice
4=temporary
5=Permanent
6=others,please specify_____________
45. What kind of work are you doing? Please describe the type of work
you are engaged in?
_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
46. Can you handle the work easily?
1=yes
52

2=No
47. If your answer is no, please explain your reason?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
48. Do you use tools or equipment’s?
1=yes 2=No
49. If yes, please list the tools you are using?
53

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
50. Do you find it difficult to manage or use these tools?
1=yes 2=No
51. What kind of work would you like to work in the future?
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
VII. Work Environment
52. Do you find the work environment conducive?
1=Yes
2=No
54

53. Is there enough light in the room?
1=yes
2=No
54. Is there enough space to do the work?
1=yes
2=no
VIII. Number of Working Hours
55. At what time do you start your work? (In Hours)
56. At what time do you stop working?
57. Number of hours of work per day?
55

1=under five hours
2=5 to 8 hours
3=10 to 15 hours
4=unstate
58. For how many days in a week do you work?
59. For how many weeks during the past months
did you do this work?
60. Do you visit your parents(relatives)?
1=yes
2=No
61. If your answer is yes, how often do you visit them?
(You can give more than one answer)
56

1=during holidays
2=once in a month
3=once in six month time
4=yearly
5=not at all
62. Do you take a break during the day?
1=yes
2=No
63. If your answer is yes, how often?
1=four times in a day
2=three times a day
3=twice a day
4=once in a day
5=not at all
IX. Payment
57

64. Are you paid for your work?
1=yes
2=No
65. How much money are you paid
for your work?
66. How often?
1=daily basis
2=weekly basis
3=monthly basis
4=others specify________________________
58

67. In what form are you paid?
1=in cash
2=in kind
68. If you are paid in cash, how much are you paid (in Birr)?
69. If it is in kind in what form?
1=in a form of food
2=shelter
3=clothing
4=others,specify___________________________
70. If you receive your payment in a form of food,
are you treated equally with the household members?
1=yes
2=No
59

71. If No, in your opinion how are you treated
differently?______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
72. If you receive your payment in a form of clothing, how much
is the value of the clothes you are given as a payment?
73. Are you paid in any other form?
1=Yes 2=No
74. If your answer is yes? Please describe it
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
75. Do you work somewhere else other than your major
work at which you are spending your major time?
1=Yes 2=No
60

76. If yes, please describe the type of work you are doing?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
X. Money Utilization
77. What do you do with the money you are earning?
1=give all to family
2=use all to self
3=some part to parents
4=Save part of the money
5=others specify____________
78. Are you responsible for any family members?
1=yes
2=No
61

79. If yes, in what way do you assist them?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
XI. Relationship with the employer
80. Are you related to your employer?
1=yes
2=No
81. Have you ever been dismissed from your working place?
1=yes 2=No
82. If yes please describe the actions you took?
62

___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
83. Did you sign agreement with employers stating the nature
of your employment as well as your payment for your work?
1=yes
2=No
84. If No, do you have any other agreement ?
1=Yes
2=No
85. If yes please explain the nature of your agreement?
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
63

86. In your opinion, how is your relationship with your employer?
1=very good
2=good
3=bad
87. What is your plan for the future?
1=better job
2=better education
3=help family
4=not worried about the future
5=others specify
88. Is there anything you want to add which we did not cover or anything you want to
add?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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Annex II
• The Definition of the child
• The rights of the child
Focus Group Discussion Theme
• Activities Performed by the child in the Home Based Enterprise
• The work Environment
• Techniques of Weaving
• Factors that forced the children in to work
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• The child relationship with the home based enterprise operator
• Payment or Wage paid to the child worker
• Employment Mechanism
• Impact of work on child development
• Perception of the community on child Labor
• Possible Intervention areas to reduce the problem
Annex III. List of Participants in the focus group discussion
1. Belete Eshete Representing Youth Group
2. Weynabeba Sheferwe Representing Women Group
3. Meselech Meride Representing Youth Group
4. Meseret Yadete Representing Kebele Administration
5. Aster Argamo Representing Kebele Finance
6. Elefinesh Siyoum Representing Women’s Group
7. Tibebe Kassa Representing Teachers
8. Zenebech Banja Representing House wives
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Annex IV. Name of Organizations Contacted
1. Daughter’s of Charity
2. World Vision International Ethiopia
3. Forum for Street Children
4. International Labour Organization
5. Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Bureau
6. Woreda 11 Administration and Finance Office
V. Map
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