Working conditions and perceived socioeconomic factors among economically active children in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh

Although child labour has been extensively studied in Bangladesh, recent evidence on economically active children in secondary cities remains limited. This study examines the socioeconomic characteristics, working conditions, and perceived socioeconomic factors associated with economic activity among 232 children aged 10–17 in Rajshahi City Corporation. Primary data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed through descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square tests, the Influencing Cause’s Index (ICI), and the Friedman test. Most respondents were aged 10–15 years, had low educational attainment, and worked in informal sectors, including potentially hazardous occupations. Poverty had the highest perceived influence, followed by urban migration, high educational costs, early marriage, household debt, and low parental aspirations. Significant associations were found between educational attainment and working hours, father’s education and occupational sector, family size and employment status, and housing conditions and workplace safety. The findings highlight interconnected household, educational, demographic, and labour-market conditions. The study does not estimate legally defined child labour prevalence because relevant legal classification information was not systematically collected.