A multinomial modelling of the determinants of child labour in Namibia using the 2018 Namibia labour force survey
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Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Child labour has been a serious concern in the world especially in developing countries and it is rapidly becoming a common problem in Namibia. Despite children not allowed to work by law in Namibia, child labour is still being heavily practiced in the country. Hence, this study was aimed at determining the factors contributing to child labour in Namibia, thereby further assisting the Namibian government and relevant stakeholders in the development of necessary procedures to eliminate child labour in country. To this end, the 2018 Namibia Labour Force Survey with a total number of 507,185 children aged 8 to 17 years and 5,136 employed children was analysed using a multinomial logistic regression model. Results of the analysis revealed that the child’s residence (urban/rural), region, age, literacy status and educational attainment were all significant determinants of child labour in Namibia. In addition, it was observed that more employed children resided in rural areas due to various farming activities that occurs in these areas. The likelihood of employment for children residing in the urban areas was less compared to being unemployed. Moreover, the odds of being economically inactive for children in the age groups below 15 years was high compared to being unemployed. This was due to the free primary education that was introduced by the Namibian government in 2013. The results also indicated that the educational status of the children was significant to child labour and the odds of employment for children with no education attainment was higher compared to being unemployed while the odds of being economically inactive was lower. This emphasizes the imperative need for urgent intervention to address the issue of employing children which are mainly necessary to enlighten the programme developers and policy makers in the fight against child labour in Namibia.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of master of Science (Applied Statistics and Demography)
Keywords
Child Labour, Economically inactive, Multinomial logistic regression