The Problem Of Child Labour

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.

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,

“Child Labour; the Effect on Child, Causes, and Remedies to the Revolving Menace,” defines child labor as referring to “children who miss their childhood and are not able to have the basic amenities which a child should have.” There are many different reasons and causes for child labor. For some countries, child labor is considered to be a cultural norm. From the time children are old enough to be taught a skill, they are often trained in that field and put to work in order to help provide for their families. Other times, it is the sheer exploitation of a family’s struggle and desperation that leads these children into the industry.

Child labor laws were made in regards to child labor because minors were treated harshly during child labor. Child labor laws in America have changed throughout the years. Now if child labor laws are disregarded a parent or employer will be fined. Many parents disregarded child labor laws to support their families. Child labor laws were a turning point in history because children were working in dangerous environments, and new standards were made to prevent child labor.

This week we discussed the topic of child labour and its ethical implications. While this topic caused a great deal of discussion, I could not help but reflect upon how often western society was used to compare what was or was not ethically correct. Upon discussing the ethical philosophies related to the case, western society was continually used as the focus point to defend the ethical decisions. In my opinion, the ethical philosophies of Kantianism and Utilitarianism discussed in class can easily be used to come to a conclusion regarding the case, but they must be viewed as impartially as possible to prevent bias.

It is estimated that over 246 million kids between the ages of 5 and 15 around the world are labouring every day for long hours. Most of these children work on farms that produce consumer products such as cocoa, coffee, cotton, rubber and other crops.

The issue of child labor has drawn significant attention since early 1990s as many labor union and special interest groups advocate banning import of goods produced by the child labor in developing countries and the international consensus in the form of Convention on the Right of the Child (CRC) which is widely ratified in 1989 by countries (Boyden, Ling and Myers, 1998). However, concern regarding child labor is not new and can be dated back to industrial revolution, especially late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, in England many parents were helpless but to send their children to work to cope the increasing poverty and inequality. (Horrell and Humphries, 1995; Edmonds, 2007). Nevertheless, before the industrial revolution and

Child labor has been an enormous issue lingering amongst our world today, but yet people d not realize that it is still occurring more often in developing countries. Throughout the last few decades, child labor has been declining in many countries. However, more than 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are still working (“Child labor around,” 2013). Some sort of child labor exists in each country due to weak economic structure and lack of regulations. These children are often forced to work under hazardous conditions, which can be identified as child labor (“Child labor around,” 2013). Many of these children’s childhood are taken away from them as well as an opportunity to gain an education. They lose the opportunity to understand what it is like to have a normal childhood. Children in poverty end up with no choice but to work under extremely hazardous conditions.

Examples of situations that had previously been considered natural to humanity but are now considered inhumane include child labor, slavery and racial segregation. The reason child labor is now considered inhumane is because of the images and films that were taken by the National Child Labor Committee. These images were publicized in newspapers for the public to see the terrible conditions of the factories and mines (Wagner, 2002). Society and technology continue to develop

Child labor is often referred to the employment that neglects a child’s childhood and the potential in attending any schools. Children who are forced to work at a young age may also experience negative effects such as health problems that will ultimately impact their overall growth. Generally, child labor is closely classified as a rural phenomenon because of the significant amount of impoverished families that send their children to work in both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, child labor in agriculture rank among the highest. In urban areas, child trafficking, prostitution, and drug trafficking is the most popular form of child labor. Moreover this process is extremely common for poor families because of the need for extra income to survive. Children from all over the world are suffering from physical, mental, and sexual disorders that transpires from child labor. In modern developed countries like the United States, laws are passed to eliminate child labor, but there are still many cases of children trafficking prior to the topic of child labor. However, child labor usually resides in the impoverished countries due to the low socioeconomic status and their culture. According to International Labour Organization (ILO), statistics shows that 246 million children are working at a young age (Lancet 2003. 32). Impoverished countries such as India, and Ghana are known to exploit children to work due to extreme poverty. Child labor is an ongoing

Regardless of some elaboration on this issue which clearly states that systematic approaches to child labor have not yet been materialized; in terms of sociology many countries continue to use child labor illegally. According to recorded information from the U.S. government presented by Caulfield’s (2009), he demonstrates how India has the peak rate of forced child labor and trafficking in areas such as textile manufacturing factories, goal mines, restaurants and household servants. Therefore, the major aim of Caulfield’s research is to focus the exploitation of young children in India, accounting both the legal and illegal side to show the different ways in which Indian government had tried and can defeat this issue of children being exploited and forced to work.

Poverty is the main reason for child labour. Poor households need the money, which their children can earn. Children contribute to 20 – 25 % of family income. It is obvious that the survival of certain families depends on the children’s earnings.

‘Forms of child labor, including indentured servitude and child slavery, have existed throughout American history.’ (http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/us_history.html) During the years following the Civil War, (http://americanhistory.about.com/od/industrialrev/a/indrevoverview.htm) the American working class made an abrupt transition away from farm work and home chores. Workers shifted over to the ever-growing factory production industry. Many factory production jobs became available following the year 1820, mid way through Industrial Revolution. This era of mechanic and industrial growth created new social divides in American society, forming new castes of entrepreneurs and splitting the population into the middle and the lower class (http://www.eiu.edu/eiutps/childhood.php). Many families relocated from rural neighbourhoods to seek employment. American citizens from the suburbs traveled to nearby cities, searching for a better life and employment. In the newly established industrial empire the jobs available often required long hours working in dangerous conditions. The work offered was in exchange for little pay– families would often have no choice but to accept the conditions. In the cases of unfavorable lines of work, children were often proffered. Children were favored because of their small stature, ability for nimble precise work, and

"Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more." No one will ever forget the simple plea made by the poor hungry little orphan named Oliver Twist. Nobody will be able to omit from his mind the painful blows that Oliver suffered. Nor will anyone cease to recall what it felt like to be young and helpless in a much bigger and stronger world. In an effort to bring the ostracized poverty situation of so many children to the public's attention, Charles Dickens wrote an unforgettable book to touch the hearts of millions. Whether he knew it then or not, he was also bringing a new connotation and worldwide innuendo to the term "child labor".