world particularly in economically backward countries.7 The crafting of the Domestic Worker Protection and Welfare Policy (Draft), 2010 and then not finalising it for years does not send a positive signal about the intention of the Government. This study report would endeavour to explore the aspirations made in regulating the domestic work by children in Bangladesh and to what extent such policies have been reflected in the relevant statutory laws. This study report would sift through the primary sources such as the relevant statutory laws, reported decisions of the Supreme Court (SC) of Bangladesh, and policies relating to rights of children and engagement of children as domestic workers. It would also survey the relevant secondary literature on these legal and policy instruments. On the basis of these primary and secondary sources, the study report would recommend some necessary steps which may be taken for regulating the engagement of children as domestic workers. The plight of child workers who may cross borders and work in overseas households though can be equally bad or perhaps even worse; that issue is beyond the scope of this study. Because of the complex international and transnational character of the issue, the plight of those children and the legal mechanism to deal with them merits a separate study. In a similar note, the readers of this study report should bear in mind that it is a study on the rights of child domestic workers and the means of uplifting their situation; hence, any issue specific to adult domestic workers (for example, maternity leave) are beyond its scope. It is expected that the outcome of this particular study would be a useful point of reference for policy makers in Bangladesh and commentators working on the legal rights of child domestic workers. 7 For a comprehensive global study providing statistical information on domestic workers and the legal protection offered to them in various countries, see International Labour Organization, Domestic Workers across the World: Global and Regional Statistics and the Extent of Legal Protection (Geneva, 2013). 3