Measuring Child Labor in Oil Palm Production in Sabah, Malaysia

Andika Wahab and Ramli Dollah (2023) Measuring Child Labor in Oil Palm Production in Sabah, Malaysia. Sage Open, 13 (4). pp. 1-14. ISSN 2158-2440

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Abstract

Can we measure child labor? It may sound simple and a classic question to ask, but scholarly discourse continues to raise doubts about how best to measure it accurately, at what level of measurement, and how to differentiate between child labor and a range of almost similar terms such as children assisting parents and working children. In this article, as part of our longterm research project in oil palm production in Sabah (Malaysia), we attempt to measure child labor focusing on four domains, (i) children’s involvement in oil palm activities; (ii) time spent in performing such activities; (iii) types of activities; and (iv) time spent on the learning and undertaking recreational activities. To better understand their involvement in oil palm activities, further analysis is undertaken from four social lenses: gender, age, identity, and education. Our overall findings indicate that while there is a clear conceptual difference and practice between children assisting parents and working children, it is challenging to distinguish between working children and child labor. Instead, most of our child respondents categorized as working children fall within the broader definition of child labor. Given the complex interplay between local contexts and root causes that create conditions of child labor, this article highlights the urgency to refresh scholarly discourse and the way we understand and measure child labor.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	child labor, working children, children assisting parents, oil palm, Sabah
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28-9999 Industries. Land use. Labor > HD4801-8943 Labor. Work. Working class > HD6050-6305 Classes of labor Including women, children, students, middle-aged and older persons, minorities H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28-9999 Industries. Land use. Labor > HD9000-9999 Special industries and trades > HD9000-9495 Agricultural industries
Department:	FACULTY > Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Depositing User:	ABDULLAH BIN SABUDIN -
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2024 10:49
Last Modified:	29 Apr 2024 10:49
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/38587

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