Social Determinants Influencing Child Labour in Sand and Gravel Quarrying Activities in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

The study assessed the social determinants influencing child labour in Tanzania's sand and gravel quarrying activities. Specifically, the study was conducted in Kinondoni and Kigamboni Municipalities. The mixed approach (pragmatism) guided by descriptive research design informed this study. A sample of 108 respondents consisting of 92 quantitative and 16 qualitative participants were engaged in the study. The sample included children, parents, social welfare officers and ward executive officers. The quantitative sample was randomly selected with availability sampling, while qualitative sample was purposively selected. The indepth interview and questionnaire were used as methods to capture primary data, while secondary data were captured using documentary review. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data, while the qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. The study findings revealed that parents indicated that child labour is a bad practice for children as it has cost implications to the welfare of children, including their physical development, health and school development. The study further disclosed that parental background on child labour has contributed to the existing child labour. The study also established that there is a relationship between cultural norms and child labour. Lastly, the study found that children’s awareness on child labour put them on high risk of engaging themselves in child labour since (20%) of respondents understood about child labour and (80%) of respondents did not understand about child labour. Therefore, from the key findings, it can be concluded that child labour is a serious problem in Tanzania, particularly in Dar es Salaam. Parents’ perceptions towards child labour are negative. However, it is the poverty that forces them to push their children into child labour. Also, family size and parental background have a direct influence on the existence of child labour in sand and gravel quarrying activities in Tanzania. Furthermore, children are ignorant on the meaning of child labour, if the children are ignorant about the meaning of child labour, it means they are not aware and are more likely to continue taking on the practice of child labour. Therefore, the study recommends mass awareness campaigns targeting employers, community leaders, policymakers and civil society organizations. Also, the government, through the Department of Social Welfare, should sensitize the general public about the existing laws and policies banning child labour. The Department of Social Welfare should ensure that child protection teams at all levels are active and facilitated. Social workers should also actively engage in lobbying and advocacy, policy analysis, public sensitization and further research to come out with sustainable solutions to the problem.