Publications

At the AMDIB Management Forum on Markets, Ethics and Leadership: Bangladesh Perspective, held in Dhaka in 2009, a compelling paper titled “Hazardous Child Labor in the Informal Sector of Bangladesh: In Search of an Agenda for Promoting a Responsible Market” was presented as part of the conference proceedings. This research offered a sobering analysis of the widespread prevalence of hazardous child labor within Bangladesh’s informal economy and its implications for ethical business practices, market accountability, and sustainable development. The paper examined the socio-economic drivers pushing children into unsafe and exploitative work environments—particularly in sectors such as recycling, small-scale manufacturing, and street vending—while critically assessing the gaps in regulatory enforcement, corporate responsibility, and social protection mechanisms. It called for the formulation of a comprehensive and multi-stakeholder agenda to promote a responsible market ecosystem, grounded in ethical leadership, supply chain due diligence, and inclusive policy frameworks. The presentation emphasized the role of businesses, civil society, and government in eliminating hazardous child labor through coordinated actions such as awareness campaigns, rehabilitation programs, and incentives for ethical sourcing. By framing child labor as not only a moral and legal issue but also a barrier to inclusive economic growth, the paper made a strong case for aligning market development with human rights and social justice in Bangladesh.

 

Author: Sheikh Morshed Jahan