40m children engaged in domestic work in BD

The number of child domestic workers, aged 5-15, in the country is no less than .40 million, according to a study.
The study, conducted by non-governmental organisation ‘Assistance for Slum Dwellers’ (ASD), also found that most of the children engaged in domestic chores are forced to work 15 hours on an average per day and 83 per cent of them are girls.
Besides, most of the child domestic workers have to work in a risky condition and are not fed with adequately nutritious diet, it noted.
The average monthly income of a child domestic worker was found to be Tk 509, said the study, adding that the amount of allowances and other facilities to child domestic workers is also very negligible.
The study was conducted under a project, titled ‘Development of Children at High Risk’, assisted by Germany-based Bred for the World initiative. The study report was disseminated at a programme in the capital Thursday, according to a news agency.