Is it a common practice to keep children as house help in Lachen?

I had visited lachen the day before yesterday on my way. We were halting there, and the hotel where we were staying was owned by this couple who has kept a little boy as a house help. He must be around 8 or 9 years old. When we reached, he was waiting there to pick our bags. I told him that we will do that on our own. But they were making him pickup firewood and all. I thought he must be adopted, as the kid was from a different ethnicity. But then when I went to a local store, I saw that they are also keeping a little boy there to do the chores. I had tea from that store and after I finished the boy came to take the cup back for cleaning. Unfortunately he dropped the cup and I had to witness him getting scolded for it. It really broke my heart. Is it a common practice to keep kids as househelps in Lachen?