NEPAL: Bonded Labor Project

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NEPAL Bonded Labor Project
International Labor Organization
IPEC
International Program on the Elimination of Child
Labor
US Department of Labor
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Country Map
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Background

• Kamaiya, a system of agricultural bonded labor,
  prevalent in western Nepal
• Survey detected 15,152 Kamaiya households,
  comprising 83,375 persons
• 46 of Kamaiya families are homeless
• 13,000 children work under the Kamaiya system
• 33,000 bonded children estimated in Nepal

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Objectives

• 1. Increase capacity to prevent and combat child
  labor
• 2. Withdraw children and provide alternatives
• 3. Create broad alliance of government,
  employers, workers and NGOs
• Target Group
• 6 to 14 age group

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Objectives

• Expected end result
• 3,200 children expected freed from bondage
• 2,400 working children in 9-14 age group provided
  with NFI
• 2,800 children mainstreamed into formal education
• 300 children in 13-14 age group supported for
  vocational education

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Process

• Kamaiya concern group
• Broad-based alliance of 17 organizations
• Awareness raising campaign
• Rehabilitation campaign
• School enrolment
• Monitoring

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Problems achievements

• No comprehensive scheme for elimination of
  bondage provision of credit and rehabilitation

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Lessons learned

• Action programs must deal with entire family, not
  just children
• Mainstream children into formal school and
  provide economic alternatives to families
• Project replicable

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Lessons learned

• Alternative income opportunities build
  self-esteem and keep children out of hazardous
  work

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IPEC International Program on the Elimination
of Child Labor