The Bonded Labour System in Nepal

Abstract

This in-depth study carried out over a period of one year focuses on the life-worlds of haliya and kamaiya child workers from Morang and Bardiya districts, respectively. The participants, from ethnic Musahar and Tharu backgrounds, become bonded labourers to earn household income and are unable to attend full-time schooling. While a few have managed to forge a ‘study-work’ contract with their employers, the vast majority are working in difficult circumstances just to support their families. Given the tremendous physical and psychosocial impact from being a haliya or a kamaiya worker, all children want to stop working if they could receive external support on educational and skills learning activities to improve their future life prospects.