Adolescent economic empowerment in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Although the Bangladeshi Labour Act 2006 prohibits people younger than 14 years from working and limits those aged between 14 and 18 from working in hazardous jobs, these activities are prevalent. In particular, rates of female child labour were found to be high in Dhaka, at 4.8%, more than twice as high as the rates in any other division.

Income generating opportunities in urban centres, such as Dhaka, are highly gendered: boys work in the services sector on average 50 hours weekly and earn 50% more than girls, girls work in garment factories an average of 40 hours weekly.

Suggested citation

Khondaker, S., Camfield, L., Sultan, M., Rashid, S. F. and Muz, J. (2019) 'Adolescent economic empowerment in Dhaka.' Policy Note. London: Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence. (https://www.gage.odi.org/publication/adolescent-economic-empowerment-in-dhaka-bangladesh/)