Modelling the key determinants of child labour in Somalia

Abstract

Child labour is an effect of many factors that are addressed in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Historically, programmes and policies have not been rolled out to address child labour owing to the fact that this has not been adequately captured or analysed in national data and statistics. The main objective of this study was to investigate the key determinants of child labour in Somalia. The study focused on children aged between 5 and 14 years using the Somalia 2006 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) Data. Binary logistic regression was conducted to analyse the data. The explanatory variables are: child age and gender, parental education, family size, wealth, regions, and area of residence. The logistic results show that the child’s age and gender, parent’s education, wealth, regions and area of residence are important determinants of child labour in Somalia. The findings indicate that the chance for child to be engaged in work increases with age. The boys had less chance to work compared to the girls. Wealth has negative influence on the chance for child labour. The results show that the literacy of father and mother decreases the chance of sending child to work. The logistic results also found regional disparities in child labour. Children from North West and North East had lower chance to be engaged in work than children from South central. Policy interventions focusing on increasing adult literacy and income of households in rural and urban areas of Somalia have potential to decrease child labour. Targeting of educational resources allocation to the regions with high child labour rates should be enhanced.