Australian Development Gateway

The Australian Development Gateway (ADG) strives to support members of the development community in their efforts to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development in the Asia Pacific region. The site has been created with participation from members of government, private, academia and non-government organisations. User feedback mechanisms have been incorporated to guide future directions of the site. The site is optimised for low bandwidth access to enable the widest participation throughout the Asia Pacific region.

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Social issues & analysis

Child labour and access to basic services - evidence from 5 countries (pdf 545kb)

This paper analyses the relationship between access to these basic services and child labour.  It draws on detailed survey data from five developing countries where significant portions of the population lack adequate access to water and electricity.

The paper concludes that a robust link exists. Where access is lacking, children tend to spend more time on tasks such as water and wood collection instead of attending school.  The importance of expanding basic services as a means of reducing child labour and increasing school attendance is highlighted.

 

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