The Surprising Impact of Raising the Legal Work Age on School Attendance
In a world where child labor continues to be a pressing issue, recent research has shed light on a significant policy intervention: increasing the minimum legal age for work. This intervention has shown promising results in enhancing school attendance in certain low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study, conducted by Oppong-Nkrumah et al., utilized a difference-in-differences approach to evaluate the effects of this policy change in Malawi, Colombia, and Burkina Faso.
Key Findings from the Study
The study revealed that increasing the legal minimum age for work had a positive impact on school attendance in Malawi and Colombia, but not in Burkina Faso. Specifically:
- In Malawi, school attendance increased by 3.0 percentage points, with a more pronounced effect among girls.
- In Colombia, the poorest tercile experienced a 6.6 percentage-point increase in school attendance, while the richest tercile saw a slight decrease.
- No significant impact was observed in Burkina Faso, highlighting the role of socio-economic conditions and enforcement mechanisms.
Implications for Practitioners
For practitioners in the field of child welfare and education, these findings underscore the importance of policy interventions that align with international conventions on child labor. However, the effectiveness of such policies depends heavily on local socio-economic conditions and the capacity for enforcement. Practitioners should consider the following strategies to improve outcomes:
- Advocate for Stronger Enforcement: Ensure that child labor laws are not only enacted but also effectively enforced. This requires adequate resources and trained personnel.
- Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Tailor interventions to support the most vulnerable populations, such as girls in Malawi and the poorest families in Colombia.
- Enhance Educational Infrastructure: Invest in improving the quality and accessibility of education, especially in regions like Burkina Faso where educational infrastructure is lacking.
Encouraging Further Research
While this study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for further research to explore the causal relationships between child labor laws and educational outcomes. Practitioners are encouraged to collaborate with researchers to gather more data and refine strategies that can be adapted to different socio-economic contexts.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The impact of increasing the minimum legal age for work on school attendance in low- and middle-income countries.
