Child labor in Indonesia: Do these children happy?

Abstract

In Indonesia, child labor is a serious issue, with more than 8 million children under the age of 18 employed in hazardous or exploitative circumstances. The paper examines how child labor impacts Indonesian children's happiness. The paper begins by defining child labor and explaining its prevalence in Indonesia. In the following sections, it discusses the different reasons for children to work in Indonesia, including poverty, family need, and cultural norms. The paper then reviews the studies on the impact of child labor on children's happiness in Indonesia. From previous studies, it can be concluded that children's happiness is mixed when it comes to child labor. Some studies suggest that child labor can negatively impact children's happiness, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. However, the results of other studies indicated that child labor can increase children's self-esteem, a sense of responsibility, and financial independence. Moreover, child labor may improve children's happiness as a result. The paper ends with a discussion of policy and practice implications.