The Exploitation of Child Labor in India

Child labor was very common and popular especially in the late 1800s and early the 1900s even though many people were not aware of the dangers. We can define child labor as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and cause to their physical and mental development. Children are the base of a country but in a developing country child labor is an issue that has yet to disappear. Most of the children remain illiterate because of their poor economic condition and parents do not have enough money to spend on the education of their children, rather they send their children for work so that they could earn some money during their poor economic condition. The objective of my research paper is to raise awareness

Child labor is a serious problem that affects children from third-world countries all over the world. These children are exploited by multinational corporations ,for their cheap labor all over the world. People, then buy products that come at a cheaper price, from these multinational corporations.These children are often overworked and treated unfairly. People need to stop buying items from countries that endorse child labor.

“The International Labor Organization estimates that at least 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are working, mostly in the developing world.” Many Americans view child labor as wrong or dangerous, but they do not realize how essential child labor can be in developing countries. In the article “Regulated Child Labor Is Necessary in Developing Countries,” by John Tierney, a current author for the New York Times, focuses on child labor and why it is essential in some developing countries. Tierney creates a sympathetic tone for the readers to try and understand the struggles regarding child labor in developing countries.

Child labor is the use of children in industry or business, that can deprive them from their childhood, keep them away from attending school, and that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful. This practice have numerous occurrences all through history and is one of the worst forms of child exploitation, particularly, with during the industrial revolution. Over the years it has grown to become one of the many serious social issues around the world. According to statistics provided by UNICEF, there are an estimated 250 million children aged 5 to 14 years employed in child labor worldwide and this figure is continuously increasing. Even with the standardized federal labor laws in effect in 1938 not a lot has changed. Child labor not only causes damage to a child’s physical and mental health but also keep him deprive them from their basic rights to education, childhood, and freedom. Child labor has very bad effects on the society that can result to consequences that can exploit the future generation.

Some country government didn’t do anything to stop it and causes a large number of children population rate to drop in every centuries or year. During the 19th century, children and women had to work in the coal mine or farming field on a hot day. More than half of children didn’t go to school, instead, they work with low wage and it is still the same even in the 21st century because like Indonesian hired children to work in tobacco with their bare hand. Child labor is a major issue that we should not forget, children have involved throughout history; especially in industrialization era. Individuals and business viewed children as an affordable, achievable and renewable resource with a low

Recently, in the Daily Telegraph Angus McDonald wrote an opinion piece about how Indian children are being exploited for cheap labour and how the government is not dealing with the problem as Angus believes they are accountable for the responsibility. This issue has recently blown up in the media, due to the recent information about the average day of a child labour living in India. Angus McDonald uses emotive language, logical evidence, case studies , appeals to a sense of justice and a photograph, along with an alarmist tone to convey the message that the government need to step up and stop child labour.

“The 2010 ILO Global Report Accelerating action against child labor notes that child labor continues to decline, but that the rate of reduction has slowed. There was a decline of 3% between 2004 and 2008, compared with a 10% decrease between 2000 and 2004.” (UN). Some countries haven’t even developed laws and regulations that are crucial to the process of eliminating child labor. “India, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, and Tonga have not established a minimum age for work. India and Pakistan, as well as six Oceanic countries and territories, have not established a minimum age for hazardous labor. Fiji, Kiribati, Maldives, and Papua New Guinea have not prohibited hazardous occupations and activities for children.” (DOL). Families who are in poverty make it harder to stop child labor and get children education. “Prohibitive costs associated with education—such as books, uniforms, and teacher fees—prevent children from attending school in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Solomon Islands.” (DOL). Because families are poor, they are unable to buy school supplies needed for school, therefore, they cannot attend. In addition, starving families do not see school and education as their number one priority. “Physical access to education is a problem for children living in remote, rural areas, particularly in Bhutan, Cambodia, India,

“Child Labor.” Eiu.edu. Accessed December 6,2015. http://www.eiu.edu/~eiutps/ newsletter_childlabor.php.

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

Child Labor around the world has impacted the way we live even in the new century were technologies has evolved along with civilization. Many developing countries support Child Labor the decrease poverty line and keep their economy stable. Child Labor is also encouraged by many poor citizens believing that it is a way they could support themselves and their families. Worldwide about 217 million children work full time, countries like India there is about 33 million child laborer between the ages 5-18 (Perspective | Child Labor: The Inconvenient Truth behind India's Growth Story). Through the history of Child Labor in the United States, developing countries can take examples and solutions to reduce the percentage of child laborer working in their countries. As Child Labor rate decreases, many students get to obtain the necessary education and pressure a career of their choice. Malala Yousafzai, a female education activist and

Children in India are being forced to work many hours a day for very little pay. More than 20 % of India’s economy are child workers under the age of 14. This is a problem they operate on deadly machines and they can be harmed. They also are exposed to bad working environments and can be injured or killed. If the refuse to work they are threatened or beaten. This a problem and this needs to stop because children have the right to a child hood. (Dougall,

The report from International Labor Organization estimates that 218 million children ages 5-17 are engaged in child labor the world over. In India, an estimated 14% of children between the ages of 5-14 are engaged in child labor activities, including carpet production. It has been projected that it would cost $760 billion over a 20-year period to end child labor. This estimated benefit in terms of good education, health and basic facilities is about 6 times that — over $4 trillion in economies where child laborers are found.

According to the Child Labor Public Education Project (2004), In 2006, approximately 75 million children were not in school, limiting future opportunities for the children and their communities.” There are many factors that contribute to child labor. Poverty and unemployment levels are undoubtedly a dominant factor in the use of child labor; families below the poverty line are forced to send their children to work in order to be able to supplement their household’s income. Even though, they do not get paid much. I could not imagine myself living on a dollar a day. According to 2005 U.N. statistics, “more than one-fourth of the world’s people live in extreme poverty.” (U.N. Statistics, 2005, pg. 1) Sadly, free education is limited, so children are being forced to work. Codes of conduct are often violated. For example, if a company notifies the building that there will be an inspection, the factories prepare themselves by making the workplace “suitable” for everyone; which is not the case at all. Global demand for cheap goods means that the supplier has to find the cheapest labor force, this means that children are forced to work. Child labor is a particular issue in the fashion industry. For instance, in cotton picking employers hire children because they have small fingers, so they do not damage the crop. Agricultural jobs pay by the amount of produce that is picketed by children. Which encourages more families to send their kids to work. It is also easier for factories to hire children since it is easier to manipulate them. As crucial as it seems, many families do not think that education will help their children survive. Above all, poverty is a big contribution of why child labor is active around the world. (Josephine Moulds,

Children are less biologically mature and less physically strong, which makes them easier to get injured. Due to the danger and chemicals they face in sweatshops, children could develop many diseases as they grow up. The developmental risk factors for children who work in factories are, rapid skeletal growth, greater risk of hearing and vision loss, higher chemical absorption rates, lower heat tolerance. They also have no access to clean water, hand washing, and toilets, and they are exposed to pesticides and sharp tools. Children who work long hours on a regular basis could harm their social and education development. And the reason why injuries happen among the young workers then adults is the lack of experience. According to Clark, “ Children are more likely to trip or get caught in machinery, and their bodies have more trouble breaking down chemical toxins and excreting them “ ( 1996). Child labor has increased in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Around the world there are an estimation of 200 million child laborers ages 6-15. In pursuit of few dollars, children are being sacrificed, some of them are only five or six years old spending their days working in factories, mines, sweatshops, markets, and building sites or sorting through refuse heaps. Parents feel obligated to invest in their older children’s education expecting them they will help finance their younger brothers and sisters education who are already working. In most part of the world, child labor is illegal in most part of the world, and yet it is increasing in many countries believing children are profitable and are very easy to exploit Since,“ they can be paid less, are easily abused without provoking retaliation and are not organized like adults might be” ( Venter, Lancaster 2000). If people around the world get together to demand the rights of those poor

Child labour is the employment of children as money earners. It became a serious social problem in the Industrial Revolution in Britain during the 1700's, and the problem spread to other countries as they became industrialized. The problem arose when children, many below the age of 10, were employed by factories and mines. The youths were forced to work long hours under dangerous and unhealthy conditions, and their wages were very small. Child workers were often deprived of the chance to attend school. Uneducated, the only work they were capable of doing was unskilled labor. Thus, they had little chance to improve themselves.