Child Labor Ethical Dilema

Little children can be efficient at many unskilled and semi-skilled tasks, and these children of the lower castes are actually meant to work rather than attend school. Another argument is that it is naive for Western societies to apply their standards to other countries and cultures. It is argued that Western societies need to respect the local cultures and customs of different nation. Finally, ending child labor is not a guarantee that the well being of the child will be improved. Many of these children need to work to sustain life, and if they can not work in the formal or legal sectors of the economy, they will find jobs in the informal sector. It may force children from productive jobs into prostitution and dangerous life on the street.

In the 21st century, our whole economy is depended upon technology. However, from the end of the Civil War and into the early 1900s, the economy was industrializing. However, industrialization created a larger need for larger workforce. The working conditions changed, but it often caused hardships for workers. As a result, the government, groups and individuals attempt to solve many problems such as low wages, child labor, and unsafe working conditions through the passing of laws and workers’ union.

“American companies pay workers in China and Vietnam less than $2 a day and workers in Indonesia less than $1 a day.” Stated in “Nike Pledges to End Child Labor and Apply U.S. Rules Abroad.” Children have been put to work in large factories at very young ages with dangerous and toxic working conditions, and a decreased amount of money in their pay. Working at large factories with heavy equipment and debris filling the air, children that have jobs in those factories may have a very high risk of injury or sickness. Although putting children to work provides them money and gets them ready for adulthood, it can deprive them from having the childhood they’re longing to have in the future. With that said, individuals should not buy items manufactured

The year to year increase in consumer demand for cheaper products have led major corporations to outsource labor in foreign countries with little to no laws preventing child labor and the building of sweatshops. Many parents here in America would be disgusted by the idea of forcing their young children to work long hard hours in factory but the truth is because of our desire for cheap products, “As many as a million children ranging in age from 5 to 15 work as debt-bonded laborers in the loom sheds of India, Nepal and Pakistan, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and the ILO” (Razzi 46). Many of the products we enjoy today such as soccer balls are made by child labor, “Eighty percent of the soccer balls sold in the U.S. are produced in a small region of eastern Pakistan, where about 20% of the work force is between 5 and 14 years old, according to the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF)” (Razzi 46). Child labor does not just exist in third world countries, “The International Labour Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations that is based in Geneva, estimates that about 13% of the world's children between the ages of 10 and 14 work, along with untold numbers of younger children” (Razzi 46). Even more surprising is the that sweatshops also exists here in America, “More than a quarter of a million people work in U.S. sweatshops, according to the Labor Department” (Razzi

ofit from her endorsement was devoted to children’s charities.” (Ross 224) Wal-Mart has always been a shady company, but with Kathie Lee’s clothing line, an investigator found out himself that child slaves in Thailand were making her clothing without her even knowing. This investigation was exceeding ironic because a small amount of the profit made by selling the clothes was given to charities benefitting children. When this scandal was brought into the public, since Gifford did not even know this was happening where her clothing was being made, she denied the accusations. Even though, the truth that came out about this clothing line was not good for both Kathie Lee or Wal-Mart’s name, Kathie Lee decided to this this experience as a way to

As Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln have individually expressed, there are many people that believe that children should be incorporated into the workforce. In his “Report on Manufactures” in 1795, Alexander Hamilton expresses how he believes that children should be continued to be sent to colonial America,

Up until the 13th amendment, owning a slave had been just like owning any other piece of property. No one felt guilty about how the slaves were being mistreated. The 13th amendment was the first step in ending slavery in the United States, but no steps were taken to end slavery in other countries. Even though people believe that slavery no longer exists today, about 5.5 million children are still held captive in slavery (Anti- Slavery International 2012). Child slavery can come in many different forms.

In the world there are about 215 million children in back breaking labor (under 18).In Africa 1 and 4 children are worked from ages 5-17, in Asia there is 1 in 8 children being worked, In Australia they import 16 million dollars’ worth of tobacco yearly! That is crazy you’re five you can’t read and can barely can talk, can’t even write, and you’re working with tobacco! Would you want your child doing that? Of course not. See, it’s just not ‘right’. Child labor is an injustice for a couple reasons First off none of the children get education, for two they get worked hard for minimum wage, for three it’s just wrong!

including underground markets that help conceal the true abuses to these children, [and it doesn’t do much to end the discrimination]. We need to tackle the issue of world property and the social conditions in developing countries that lead to child labor. [We can make a change] by decreasing our demand for these products, but it’s [evidently] not enough to end this [riot] of human affairs.” Seghers, Benjamin and Tom Harkin (12 Feb 2010)

Child Labor seems like a thing of the past for those living in wealthy settings. However, in some 3rd-world countries, families live in poverty and depend on labor to live. Many large companies have been accused of hiring underage people to work in factories., and many people believe that the U.S. should stop buying goods from these companies. Instead, the U.S. should still buy from these companies because it would not stop the issue, it would have many economic effects for families, and

Manufacturers source the best fabrics available at low cost to make into garments. U.S. textile and apparel imports increased from $10 billion in 1982 to $96 billion in 2006. This corresponds to the enormous growth of the textile industries of China, Korea, Taiwan, and India. One reason for this is that U.S. manufacturers contracting production overseas tend to use fabrics from

This poem addresses the conflict between social morality towards child labor and the realization that the elite have influenced societies ways. As the original speaker in the poem sees something black in the snow and approaches the object, it turns out to be a young chimneysweeper crying all alone. Once the speaker has approached the cries, the poem then transitions to a different speaker who is the young chimneysweeper expressing their perception towards their situation, which is being involved in child labor and how the sweepers parents along with a prominent source such as “God, Priest & Kings” (12). bypass the morality of forced labor on the young.

In the United States, child labor and sweatshops are illegal, and society frowns upon any business that exploits children in the production of goods. Though most would say that they would not support a company that uses child labor to produce its goods, almost everyone has, in fact, knowingly or unknowingly, supported these businesses in one way or another. Children are involved in the production of many of the everyday goods we import from overseas, including the manufacturing of clothes, shoes, toys, and sporting equipment, the farming of cocoa, cotton, sugarcane, and bananas, and the mining of coal, diamonds, and gold (The U.S. Dept. of Labor). Often, we are blinded to this fact.

We have all heard that child labour is a bad thing, however, lets try and think – is it, really?

As a member of the Catholic Church, one is called upon to liberate the marginalized and help the weakest members of society. In order to so in a way that is in accordance with the Catholic Church, one is obligated to follow the ten principles of Catholic Social Teachings. These teachings are a guideline that will lead citizens to the way God planned for society to function through the words of the Bible, Popes and Bishops. As society turns to the social issues the world experiences today, the Catholic principles shed light on the acts necessary to carry out God’s plan. A social issue that has been ignored in the past is child labour. This horrendous practice has taken over the lives of over 152 million children, due to money thirsty savages that have no regard for basic human rights. (MORE THAN 40 MILLION, 2017). The Catholic Church is highly opposed to the social justice issue of child labour as she clearly outlines in her teachings that society must protect those who are vulnerable, respect the dignity and human rights of minors, and allow children to live their youth in freedom and free from oppression.