International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences 2017, Vol. 6, No. 2 ISSN: 2226-3624 233 www.hrmars.com The Dilemma of Child Labor Practice in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Nigel Kama Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia Budi Eko Soetjipto Faculty of Economics, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia Puji Handayati Faculty of Economics, Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia DOI: 10.6007/IJAREMS/v6-i2/3080 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJAREMS/v6-i2/3080 Abstract Child Labor is a controversial issues practiced in many developing countries. It is not a new phenomenon and has been observed over decades that, economic, society, culture and poverty forces poor families to send their children to work, which results in a serious problems. Child labor can leave many severe consequences on children and their families. In addition to that, children usually work to contribute and provide financial support to their families. This research paper provides child labor predicament in Port Moresby and their activities. Data has been collected from participants in Port Moresby including 2 Teachers, 5 Child Laborer, 5 Community/Society Leaders, 5 Parents and 1 company officer. The results from this study explain the reasons which forces children to work financial constraints, cultural tradition, society and poverty. This paper also recommended possibilities that governments, societies, and communities should cooperate in a better way with each other to reduce child labor. Keywords: Child Labor, Poverty, Culture, Society Introduction Child labor use in developing countries continues to be a controversial issue often debated at international forums (Basu and Van, 1998; and Maskus, 1997). Child labor is generally characterized by low wages, long hours of work under dangerous, hazardous, unhealthy and unhygienic conditions, which could lead to poor physical and mental development (Kruse and Mahony, 1998). In fact, it is not a new phenomenon, but rather one, which was extensively practiced in Europe, particularly in Britain, during late eighteenth and early 19th century (Brown, 2001). The International Labor Office reports that children work the longest hours and are the worst paid of all laborers (Bequele and Boyden 1988). Though