Working in Garment Industry and Child Education and Work in Cambodia

Abstract

Working in the garment industry may positively affect children’s education due to income effect. It may also decrease children’s time in school and increase time at work when the parent(s) and/or other adult household members work outside the home. This study explored the effects of parental and other household members’ work in that industry on the education and work of school-age children in Cambodia. The estimated results of the coarsened exact matching analysis revealed that parental work in the garment industry significantly impacts child education and work; in particular, female children are more likely to be in school and less likely to work if their parents are working. In contrast, an adverse effect was found when adult household members worked there; children were less likely to stay in school and more likely to work longer hours. Rural children seem less affected by adult members’ work.