Not every child who works, is a child labourer. In developing countries, and sometimes in developed countries as well, children work and help their parents. The child work becomes child labour when:

• Children below specified age (in Nepal, the minimum legal working age is 16 years for hazardous work and 14 years for other works) are doing full time work.

• Children do work that is harmful and dangerous to their mental, physical and social developments.

• Children do not go to school because of the work.

• Children have no time for rest, relaxation and play, which are their natural rights.

• Children are exploited physically, mentally, emotionally or sexually.

• Children are employed in wage employment.

It is estimated that, close to 1 million children in Nepal, work in urban areas as household and hotels/restaurants helpers, in factories (carpet, brick kilns, etc.), as transport helpers, as street vendors, rag pickers, etc. Most of these children have migrated from remote villages to the cities. Many more children work in agriculture sector mostly helping their parents.

The main causes for child labour are poverty and unawareness of (mostly illiterate) parents on the value of learning and education. Additional factors are broken homes, too many children, lack of appropriate schools (too far to travel or unattractive government schools, etc.), desire for earning or living in cities, etc. For girls, there is an additional reason – parents' discrimination for not being male.