Socioeconomic Determinants of Child Labor at Auto workshops in Pir Wadhai and Mandi Moor Region, District Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores the complex web of factors driving child labor among children working in auto workshops of Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Drawing on Bourdieu's Theory of Social Reproduction, which emphasizes the intergenerational transmission of social inequalities through limited access to cultural capital (particularly education), the research investigates how poverty and lack of educational opportunities trap children in a cycle of work. Employing purposive sampling, the study surveyed 200 children aged 7 to 15. The findings reveal a troubling reality: a significant portion lack formal education (56% illiterate) and overwhelmingly cite poverty (77.5%) as the primary reason for working. Statistical analysis further confirms a strong association between both large family size and poverty with child labor. Despite these hardships, a glimmer of hope persists nearly half (45%) of the respondents expressed a desire for education. These findings underscore the urgent need for multi-pronged interventions. Policies promoting access to quality education, empowering families through poverty alleviation programs, and equipping adults with job skills can offer viable alternatives to child labor. Only through a comprehensive approach can Pakistan dismantle the system that traps children in workshops and pave the way for a brighter future where education, not work, defines their path.