Social Harms of Child Labor in Afghanistan (Case Study of Bamyan City)

The social harms of child labor in Bamyan City, Afghanistan, represent a fundamental and critical issue with widespread negative impacts on both children and society. Due to poverty and economic difficulties, children are compelled to undertake hard and exhausting work, depriving them of their basic rights such as education and play. The aim of this study is to identify the factors influencing child employment, evaluate its social and psychological consequences, and provide effective solutions to reduce and eliminate these harms. This quantitative research gathered information using questionnaires from child labor in Bamyan City and analyzed it with SPSS software. The results show that half of the children are deprived of education and mostly work in mechanics and blacksmithing with low income. Their guardians are predominantly unemployed or day laborers, and these children live in large families. The primary reasons for child employment include poverty, unemployment, the need for skill acquisition, deprivation from school, and the incapacity or illness of parents. Child labor leads to serious social harms such as depression, hopelessness, illness, aggression, encouragement towards drug use and crimes, and sexual abuse. Some children feel hopeless about the future, while others have aspirations such as becoming skilled workers, doctors, engineers, and politicians. This situation requires serious and urgent measures.