Factors Influencing Persistence of Child Labour in Tanzania : A Case Study of Morogoro Rural District

This study aimed to examine factors influencing persistence of child labour in Tanzania with particular focus on Morogoro Rural District .The specific objectives of the study included: to assess the relationship between community level of awareness and child labour, to examine the influence of cultural norms on child labour ;to examine the extent to which parental income level relates to child labour and to determine the extent to which a child‟s relations with the head of household relates to child labour.The employed a mixed method approach .The quantitative aspect involved 228 respondents and the qualitative aspect engaged 39 participants. Primary data was collected by using questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions and field observation methods and secondary data was obtained through documentary review. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software analyzed quantitative data while the thematic analysis .The study findings indicated a significant relationship between community awareness level and child labour .The relationship between cultural norms and child labour was also established. The study revealed a significant relationship between parental income level and child labour. A child‟s relations with the head of a household was also found to be significantly related to child labour. From the findings it is clear that child labour persists because the existing poverty reduction strategies and awareness raising campaigns against child labour have failed to realize their objectives . This study recommends awareness raising campaigns against child labour in rural areas . Social workers should aggresively advocate for scaling up of economic empowerement programmes in rural areas in order to reduce the incomes gap which force families to allow children to engage in employment