Child labor and unfree labor: Evidence from the palm oil sector in Sabah (East Malaysia)

Wahab, Andika Ab.; Dollah, Ramli

doi:10.1080/14754835.2022.2115289

Cited by 4 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“… Source . Updated table from Wahab and Dollah (2022). Actual fieldwork was conducted in Lahad Datu, Sabah, from 21 January 2019 to 23 January 2020. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study employed a combination of a time-use-survey and a semi-structured interview. In essence, the time-use-survey is a 24-hour diary survey approach that allows researchers to assess the time-use pattern and changes in respondents’ daily activities (Bauman et al, 2019; Wahab & Dollah, 2022). The survey approach has been widely acknowledged as among the best methods to measure unpaid work activities (e.g., informal economy) (Fleming & Spellerberg, 1999).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the context of children in oil palm production in Sabah, our field findings indicate that the chronic conditions of needs, primarily associated with poverty, lack of identity and enrolment in the formal education system-have collectively influenced the involvement of children in oil palm activities. In this context, children are incapable of consenting to their participation in oil palm activities, hence the notion of compulsion may apply (see Wahab & Dollah, 2022).…”

Section: Conceptual Contributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sabah is the second-largest palm oil-producing state in Malaysia (Wahab & Dollah, 2022). Existing studies indicate tens of thousands of Indonesian, Filipino and stateless children working informally and/or assisting their parents in undertaking oil palm-related activities (Abdul Aziz & Iskandar, 2017; Earthworm Foundation, 2019; Wahab, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Sabah specifically, there has been a growing literature studying the employment of children and/or child labor. In Sabah specifically, these studies explained the intersection between child labor, household poverty and geographical remoteness (see Abdul Aziz & Iskandar, 2017; Dzurizah & Jalihah, 2014; Pye et al, 2012; World Vision, 2012); children working in long hours, less pay and barriers to education (see Ibrahim & Shah, 2014); and children affected by cross-border migration, irregularity, and lack of documentation (see Earthworm Foundation, 2019; Ibrahim & Shah, 2014; Ismail, 2008; Puder, 2019; Wahab & Dollah, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring Child Labor in Oil Palm Production in Sabah, Malaysia

Wahab,

Dollah

2023

SAGE Open

Self Cite

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Can we measure child labor? It may sound simple and a classic question to ask, but scholarly discourse continues to raise doubts about how best to measure it accurately, at what level of measurement, and how to differentiate between child labor and a range of almost similar terms such as children assisting parents and working children. In this article, as part of our long-term research project in oil palm production in Sabah (Malaysia), we attempt to measure child labor focusing on four domains, (i) children’s involvement in oil palm activities; (ii) time spent in performing such activities; (iii) types of activities; and (iv) time spent on the learning and undertaking recreational activities. To better understand their involvement in oil palm activities, further analysis is undertaken from four social lenses: gender, age, identity, and education. Our overall findings indicate that while there is a clear conceptual difference and practice between children assisting parents and working children, it is challenging to distinguish between working children and child labor. Instead, most of our child respondents categorized as working children fall within the broader definition of child labor. Given the complex interplay between local contexts and root causes that create conditions of child labor, this article highlights the urgency to refresh scholarly discourse and the way we understand and measure child labor.

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“… Source . Updated table from Wahab and Dollah (2022). Actual fieldwork was conducted in Lahad Datu, Sabah, from 21 January 2019 to 23 January 2020. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conceptual Contributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring Child Labor in Oil Palm Production in Sabah, Malaysia

Wahab,

Dollah

2023

SAGE Open

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Exploring the intersection of digitalization and sustainability in oil palm production: challenges, opportunities, and future research agenda

Abubakar,

Ishak

2024

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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How do Climate Change and Environmental Degradation contribute to Violence against Children?

Datzberger¹,

Howard-Merrill²,

Iorfa³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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This scoping review of the literature explores the interlinkages between two pressing crises: violence against children (VAC) and climate change (CC) together with environmental degradation (ED). Only recently have research and policy begun to shine a light on the magnifying effect of CC on children’s exposure to violence, exploitation, and abuse, with the role of ED remaining under-explored. To spur academic and political movement in this area, our research aims to help establish the magnitude, direction, and pathways of the relationship between CC, ED, and VAC. We showcase the complexity of that relationship and illustrate, in the form of case studies, why context-specific approaches and more research are needed. Doing so, we cover five thematic areas: 1) Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction, 2) Gender, 3) Im/mobility, 4) Child Labour and 5) Health. Taking all five thematic areas together, structural violence against children emerged as a cross-cutting theme, creating and reinforcing the conditions for multiple forms of VAC in the context of CC and ED.

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Child labor and unfree labor: Evidence from the palm oil sector in Sabah (East Malaysia)

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Measuring Child Labor in Oil Palm Production in Sabah, Malaysia

Measuring Child Labor in Oil Palm Production in Sabah, Malaysia

Exploring the intersection of digitalization and sustainability in oil palm production: challenges, opportunities, and future research agenda

How do Climate Change and Environmental Degradation contribute to Violence against Children?

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