Child domestic labor remains one of the most hidden and normalized forms of child labor in Nepal. Despite laws prohibiting the practice, many children—primarily from rural and disadvantaged communities—continue to be trafficked or sent into urban households, where they face exploitative and sometimes abusive conditions.
To address this pressing issue, CWISH and Free the Slaves (FTS), conducted a comprehensive qualitative study titled “Life as Child Domestic Workers in Kathmandu.” On August 13, 2025, the findings were shared at a dissemination event that brought together government agencies, civil society organizations, networks, and child protection actors to reflect on the evidence and chart a way forward.
Research Highlights
The research explored:
- Pathways into domestic labor: how children are trafficked or sent to work in urban households.
- Push and pull factors: including poverty, discrimination, and lack of opportunities in rural areas.
- Working and living conditions: long hours, lack of educational support, hazardous assignments, and punishments that further marginalize children.
- Systemic gaps: weak enforcement of existing laws, invisibility of child domestic workers in official data, and lack of tailored interventions.
The study concluded with urgent recommendations for stronger enforcement, expanded research beyond Kathmandu, school-based support for working children, and alignment of interventions with Nepal’s legal frameworks and global commitments such as Sustainable Development Goal 8.7.
Stakeholder Reflections
During the dissemination event, stakeholders emphasized the need to:
- Verify if school allowances and support services are reaching children.
- Address teacher discrimination and motivate schools to welcome child laborers.
- Disaggregate data by age and gender to better understand vulnerabilities.
- Incorporate parents’ and employers’ perspectives in future research.
- Study links between domestic work and hazardous sectors such as shops, party palaces, and entertainment venues.
- Promote wider advocacy to influence systemic change and government accountability.
Key Outcomes
The event fostered:
- Broadened understanding among stakeholders of the hidden and complex nature of child domestic labor.
- Concrete recommendations for strengthening the research and advocacy framework.
- Alignment with national priorities including the Children’s Act 2075 and the National Master Plan on Child Labor 2075–2085.
- Commitment from the National Child Rights Council to use the findings in policymaking and law enforcement.
The dissemination of “Life as Child Domestic Workers in Kathmandu” created a vital platform for amplifying the voices of children trapped in domestic labor, fostering cross-sector dialogue, and mobilizing collective action.
Moving Forward: Collective Action for Change
With broad agreement from attending stakeholders, the next phase will see these findings refined and utilized for advocacy, legislative reform, and local support mobilization—striving to ensure each child’s right to education, dignity, and protection. Free the Slaves and CWISH remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing evidence-based advocacy and forging stronger collaborations to end exploitative child domestic labor in Nepal.
This research is a call to action for policymakers, practitioners, and communities alike—shining a spotlight on “invisible” children and urging coordinated, systemic change to guarantee every child a safe, empowered future in Nepal.
See a local newspaper report on the event here.
