Policy evaluation on the worst forms of child labour in Indonesia: Why does it matter?

The purposes of this study are to map the situation and the profile of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) as well as to analyse evaluation on policy implemented by national and local government to eliminate the WFCL in Indonesia. The study mobilizes a number of different sources such as regulations, research reports and scientific papers, combined with personal interviews and focus group discussion with child workers, local government officials, NGO and local community leader who are involved in efforts to eliminate child labour in four selected cities. This study observed that eliminating the WFCL in Indonesia still faces various constraints. Inconsistency between national and local policy as well as lack of synergy and coordination between stakeholders attested to the reality that the government is still ambiguous and not seriously committed to cope with this social issue. Even worse, economic and cultural factors are responsible for the decisions of some families to allow their children to participate in dangerous environment. At the same time, children showed enormous resilience and ingenuity in dealing with their situation and do not see themselves as victims. © Medwell Journals, 2016.