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Six basic methods have been applied to generate child labour statistics and information:
- National Child Labour Surveys (NCLS)
- the Rapid Assessment Methodology (RA)
- Baseline Surveys
- Establishment-based Surveys
- Street Children Surveys
- School-based Surveys
These child labour survey methodologies, however, are not mutually exclusive; instead they can be applied in a combined and complimentary way.
National Child Labour Surveys
These are household-based national sample surveys whose target respondents are parents or guardians and children living in the same household. The surveys are carried out as stand-alone surveys or as modules attached to other national household-based surveys such as labour force surveys. The statistics and information generated from these surveys cover both economic and non-economic activities (such as household chores) of children, demographic and social characteristics of household members, working hours, nature of tasks, health and safety issues including injuries at work and perceptions of parents about children's work. With regard to the worst forms of child labour, the national surveys usually capture information on jobs targeted by Convention No. 182 as "hazardous work". To capture the more hidden and illicit forms of child labour, SIMPOC mainly relies on other methodologies such as the Rapid Assessment.
Rapid Assessments
In response to the lack of data and information on the worst forms of child labour, the ILO and UNICEF jointly developed the Rapid Assessment (RA) methodology. The RA is a method of gathering descriptive information on hidden or illicit forms of child labour quickly and in a limited geographical area. It is often used at the first stage of programme planning. While more qualitative and less scientific in approach than household-based surveys, the RA is considerably easier, less costly, and faster to implement. The method has proven very useful for obtaining detailed knowledge of the working conditions and life circumstances of children who are the victims of the worst forms of child labour. In general, the RA methodology is not designed to extrapolate figures or make generalizations outside the scope of the interviewed respondents.
Baseline Surveys
Baseline surveys are aimed at the precise identification of specific child labour populations and their characteristics, as well as the determinants and consequences of child labour in specific sectors. They are closely linked to action programmes in terms of identifying target groups and monitoring their withdrawal from work over time. Baseline surveys combine both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The methods used are usually a mix of sample survey and participatory approaches, such as community-level inquiries, household and employer surveys, street children inquiries, school surveys, and RAs.
Establishment-based Surveys
Establishment surveys seek out and query employers of children, and where possible, the child workers themselves. The establishments are often selected from a list derived from a National Child Labour Survey. Establishment-based surveys cover issues such as working hours and conditions, benefits and injuries of children as compared with adults. They also obtain information on the reasons employers hire children and the recruitment methods used.
Street Children Surveys
Street children surveys target two main categories of children: (a) those who live and work on the streets and by definition do not have any other place of residence; and (b) those who work on the streets but normally reside with their parents or guardians. While category (b) can be captured through the household surveys, category (a) cannot. The approach relies on randomly interviewing children and, if possible, their employers and/or clients, using questions similar to those in the National Child Labour Surveys.
School-based Surveys
School-based surveys are intended to obtain further information concerning children who have been identified as working via the household surveys. The purpose is to determine the impact of work on performance and attendance in school as well as the children's attitudes to studying in general. The surveys include interviews with teachers and school management allowing for comparisons of working children and non-working children in school. The surveys also attempt to assess some of the school-related factors that may influence a child to work, such as the quality of the school and the children's perception of the relevance of their education.
For a comprehensive explanation of survey design and methodologies, consult: IPEC, Child labour statistics: Manual on methodologies for data collection through surveys (PDF 7532 KB)
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