Forced Child Labor

Child labour is a very real problem in the world today, and although it is declining, progress is happening at a slow and unequal pace. Child labour by the International Labour Organization is defined as “work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development (Diallo, Etienne, & Mehran, 2013, p. 2).” In the most extreme forms of child labour it could account for child enslavement, separation from their families, exposure to serious hazards and illnesses and being left to fend for themselves on the streets (Dinopoulos & Zhao, 2007). In order for certain types of work to be included as “child labour” depends on the child’s age, the type of work,

While in child slavery or labor countless innocent lives are lost. “Each year, as many as 2.7 million healthy years of life are lost due to child labor.” Healthy years of life can be lost in many ways, mental and physical diseases, drugs, and much more.One big reason is that while working lots of children get mental illnesses and can be driven crazy. To get these mental illnesses it

Alberto’s example is not the only example of child labor. There are 196 countries in the world today, and 46 countries don’t protect children under the age of 18 from performing hazardous work. Globally 168 million children between ages 5-17 are child laborers. Many kids never go to school or drop out limiting future options and forcing children to accept low wage work as adults and to raise their own children in poverty. Children work because work is perceived as the best use of their time in contributing to the needs of the family and preparing them for the life they are expected to

As of 2013, 168 million children worldwide are engaged in child labor. The Sub-Saharan Africa region has the second highest number of child laborers in the world; about 59 million as of 2012 (borenproject.org). Child labor refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend school, and is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful (ilo.org). Children work in dangerous conditions, harming their mental and physical state. More than half of these children are exposed to the worst forms of child labor. More should be done to end child labor. These children experience unfair treatment, hazardous living conditions, and

The sweat dripped from the five year old’s face as he sent the parts down the assembly line. During the Industrial Revolution many children were forced to work in order to support their family because of the unstable economy. The hardships that these children suffered through ruined their childhood. In the factories, the working conditions for the children were terrible, they had working long hours for such little pay for their families. In the United States today, this problem is mostly resolved due to many bills that went through Congress, but in many third world countries child labor still exists. Although it was a very cheap solution for large companies, it destroys the life of children in an unethical manner.

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)

Just the other day you spotted a shirt you thought you couldn’t live without. You tried it on. It fit perfectly. It was on sale for a surprisingly reasonable price, so of course, you bought it. What you never thought about was its story. It was made by a ten-year-old refugee living in the Jordan. He makes shirts in order to earn a meager pay that barely keeps him alive. He has no time for school, because he’s devoting all his time to work. Not only is he missing out on an education, but he’s one of many victims who are mistreated and abused by the adults managing the facility. Believe it or not, this is the shocking story of countless products you buy, including glass, leather, coffee , chocolate, cotton and rice. Child labor is a cruel and

However small amount the children are paid, helps support their family. The children in this labor force typically come from impoverished households, and in undeveloped countries. Often times parents have no choice but to push their children into child labor, as they cannot meet basic needs without this extra income. “1 out of every 6 children work mainly in South Asia and South-Saharan Africa,” which are also the poorest regions in the world. Putting children to work can be a necessity in order for their family’s survival.

Chapter one: What are child laborers? How do children become laborers? Where do child laborers come from?

Halima is an 11 year old girl who lives in Bangladesh; she works eight hours a day six days a week. She works clipping loose threads off of Hanes underwear for only 53 cents a day. Halima needs to clip 150 pairs of underwear per hour, and she becomes exhausted to the point where she is able to fall asleep standing up. This 11 year old girl should not be working like this. Worldwide, there are approximately 150 million children involved in child labor who shouldn’t be. Child labor is an issue that attacks the rights of children and takes away their ability to be a child, as displayed by the countries of Eritrea and China.

There are many causes of forced labor. Poverty, lack of education, gender inequality, and violent conflicts are just some of the major ones. Every day more and more children are being affected by forced labor. Innocent children are forced into working because of the living conditions these four factors cause ("Addressing Root Causes").

is not uncommon for a child to work, but it crosses the line when it comes to certain jobs such as domestic servitude or prostitution (“Child Labor,” 2016). Children may be saved or removed from their enslavement, but need to have the help to either further education or be given an opportunity where their life will be substantial. The goal is to not have them fall back into enslavement, but also to not shift to another forced trafficking such as the sex trade (Humanity United, 2015).

“Yes, [the child workers] complain of pain, but what can they do? The kids are here to make a living. They bear all the pain to do all the work,” are the haunting words of the Kabul, brick kiln manager, Sher Khan. In Afghanistan, children are being exploited, forced to work in harsh conditions and without any governmental protection. This oppression is a violation of human rights through labor. Throughout history, we have seen an exploitation violating human rights in labor work through events and times like feudalism, the Industrial Revolution, Chinese labor camps, and even today in places like Afghanistan, people have continuously violated human rights through labor work.

For all the for kids that will read this. Well technically are reading this. Not all work done by children should be classified as child labour that is to be targeted for elimination. “The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. Children’s or adolescents’ participation in work that does not affect their health and personal development or interfere with their schooling, is generally regarded as being something positive. This includes activities such as helping their parents around the home, assisting in a family business or earning pocket money outside school hours and during school holidays” -Child-Labor-Facts-and-Statistics

Today, Africa faces many economical struggles such as Child labor and trafficking, poverty, piracy, Boko Haram, poaching, and much more. These problems have created great controversy around the world and has created problems with countries outside of Africa. Out of all of these problems, Child labor and trafficking are one that causes the most controversy across the world. Most of the children are tricked into going to work with the traffickers because they are manipulated into thinking they will be paid. This is the biggest problem in Africa because it is causing young children to work as slaves in chocolate factories, children are being threatened to work in dangerous work spaces, and they are unable to get the education they need to get out of poverty, which they live in