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Publication Embargo Drivers of Child Labour: Socio-Economic Insights from the 15 Worst-Affected Countries(Springer Science and Business Media, 2025-12-12) Magammana, T; Perera, A; Bandara, A; Muthugala, H; Jayathilaka, RChild labour remains a significant global challenge, particularly in low-income countries where socio-economic factors such as health, education, economic wealth, and globalisation play pivotal roles. This study investigates the interplay of these determinants in the 15 worst-affected countries, offering a nuanced understanding of the drivers of child labour. A secondary data analysis was conducted using panel data from 2010 to 2021 for the 15 countries with the highest child labour prevalence. The study employed Polynomial Simple Linear Regression to explore the relationships between child labour and key socio-economic variables: education, health, economic wealth, and globalisation. Descriptive statistics, scatter plots, and thematic maps were utilised to visualise trends and associations. The analysis revealed complex, non-linear relationships between socio-economic variables and child labour. Education and health demonstrated dual impacts, where improvements sometimes paradoxically increased child labour due to economic and cultural factors. Economic wealth reduced child labour in some contexts but exacerbated it in others, driven by unequal wealth distribution. Globalisation similarly showed mixed effects, depending on local regulatory and socio-economic conditions. Addressing child labour requires context-specific interventions. Education and healthcare investments must be paired with policies that tackle structural inequalities and ensure equitable economic wealth. Globalisation’s potential benefits in reducing child labour depend on robust regulatory frameworks and inclusive economic strategies.Publication Embargo Addressing Child Labour in SAARC: The Synergy of Education, Health and Economic Growth Towards SDGs(John Wiley and Sons, 2025-11-09) Muthugala, H; Magammana, T; Perera, A; Bandara, A; Jayathilaka, RChild labour remains a critical socio-economic challenge in the SAARC region, closely linked to sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study investigates the determinants of child labour by examining the roles of education, health and economic growth using a robust methodological framework. The analysis captures the non-linear country-specific relationships between these variables and child labour, employing advanced methodological approaches, including multiple polynomials, stepwise and simple polynomial regression. The findings reveal a complex interplay of factors, with each variable showing positive and negative effects on child labour in country-specific contexts. Improved access to education generally reduces child labour, but disparities in quality and affordability can have the opposite effect. Health improvements significantly lower child labour rates, yet unequal healthcare access perpetuates exploitation among vulnerable groups. Economic growth shows dual effects: it promotes adult employment and alleviates poverty, yet unregulated expansion in specific sectors can heighten the demand for child labour. This study makes a novel contribution by integrating socio-economic determinants with child labour within a regional framework, providing actionable insights while aligning with SDGs 3, 4, 8 and 8.7. Key policy recommendations include fostering regional collaboration, ensuring access to free education, enacting and enforcing new laws, improving healthcare infrastructure and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth. These measures align with global SDG commitments but aim to secure a brighter future for the region's children by achieving these goals by 2030.
