Joint International Economics - UNU-CRIS Seminar by Rashid Sohail Khan and Ilse Ruyssen on The Impact of Parental Migration on Child Labour in Pakistan.

This seminar by Rashid Sohail Khan and Ilse Ruyssen will take place on Friday, 16 January from 09.00 to 10.00 at Ghent University.

Abstract. Parental migration is a widespread livelihood strategy in low- and middle-income countries, yet its implications for children remain poorly understood. While prior studies have focused on schooling and emotional well-being, little is known about how migration histories shape children’s economic participation. This paper examines the relationship between parental migration and child labor in Pakistan, using eight waves (2009–2020) of nationally representative Labor Force Survey data covering over 275,000 children aged 10–14. We investigate whether and how past episodes of international and domestic parental migration affect the likelihood and intensity of child labor, with particular attention to household structure, child gender, location, migration destination, and time since return. The results indicate that parental migration—especially domestic episodes and those occurring further in the past—is consistently associated with a lower risk and intensity of child labor, particularly in joint-family households. These effects are stronger for male children and in rural areas. Overall, the findings highlight the lasting influence of migration on household decision-making and underscore the role of family context in shaping its impact on child labor.

This is a closed event. For further information, please contact Pascale Vantorre at pvantorre@cris.unu.edu