Child labour is defined as any type of work that harms the children or makes them to leave school. The growing gap between rich and poor around the world in recent decades forced millions of young children away from schools to work. It is estimated that around 215 millions children in between the ages of 5 and 17 are working in illegal, hazardous or extremely exploitative conditions. Underage children usually work all sorts of work in any part of the world because their families are very poor. Millions of children work in agriculture, in manufacturing, mining, domestic services etc. Most of them get trapped in illegal activities like drug trade, robbery, stealing, prostitution or other traumatic activities.
Business: "The cheaper something is to make, the bigger profit one can get." Many businesses believe this, no matter how adversely they affect others. With this type of thinking, businesses try to reduce their cost of production by employing people at low wages and for many hours. In the United States, it is unlikely that businesses are able to open up many sweatshops because the laws are strict, people are educated, and people know that there are jobs that would pay more. But in third world countries, it is a different story. Poor countries are unable to provide neither monetary support nor federally funded benefits for those in need like welfare in the United States. Therefore, the only solution is to allow children to work to support their families or to starve or live without a home.
Source: Foster, 1996.
Poverty: In third world countries, there are many people, less space, and not enough money and resources for everybody. That is why there are many who are poor without money or a home. When individuals have children, they are often unable to support them with food or housing, let alone schooling. Since the children are unable to go to school, they have time to work. Families tend to discover the more children they have, the more successful they are in surviving because the children can work or be sold. It is found that children in poor countries are the main contributors to family income.
Education: Families do not know that what companies are doing is wrong; they do not know about any opportunities outside of their immediate homes and workplaces. They are forced to work about ten to twelve hours for six days a week and are paid as low as fifteen cents per hour. Sometimes when they are forced to work overtime, they are paid 10% more or it is just considered as volunteered work. They work in unsanitary, unsafe, injurious, and very strict places.
Sources: Siddiqi, 2002 and Forbes, 1999
"There is work that profits children, and there is work that brings profits only to employers. The object of employing children is not to train them, but to get high profits form their work." -Lewis Hine, 1908
Millions of children around the world face hazardous working conditions. The children's future and development are in great danger. They face dangerous accidents and are treated poorly by employers. Many suffer from loss of eyesight, constant back and neck pains, cuts, deformation of fingers, and lung diseases (asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, or cancer). Because of the cheap wages they receive they are unable to get treatments even with injuries that are treatable. Millions die every day for the lack of medical attention.Children's innocence is lost. The experiences of childhood diminished and are scared for life, all due to the need for cheap labor.
Education could mean freedom from oppression and poverty. However, these desperate parents do not encourage the children to attend school and they do not emphasize the importance of knowledge. There are many children who would like to attend school. Twelve-year-old Furman Owens, said to photographer Lewis Hine, "Yes I want to learn but can't when I work all the time."
Crime groups have organized to take advantage of the lack of enforcement of the law. Corruption of many government officials and their fear of the violent criminal syndicates interfere with the improvement of millions of children worldwide.For example:As with the case of 14-year-old Costa Rican prostitute named Ivette, who was sexually exploited, murdered, and chopped up into pieces in December of 2000. Stories like Ivette's have not found justice, almost all of the perpetrators who commit such heinous crimes are still free.
Of an estimated 215 child laborers around the globe:
approximately 114 million (53%) are in Asia and the Pacific;
14 million (7%) live in Latin America;
and 65 million (30%) live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Some of the work of young people in this sector is considered legitimate, but there are indications of considerable abuse. Low pay is the norm, and in some tourist areas, children’s work in hotels and restaurants is linked to prostitution. In at least one example, child hotel workers received such low pay that they had to take out loans from their employers; the terms of the interest and repayment often led to debt bondage.
Sources:
http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/TTQ02189/effects.htm
http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/what_is_child_labor.html
Current status by graph:
Causes:-
Source: Foster, 1996.
Poverty: In third world countries, there are many people, less space, and not enough money and resources for everybody. That is why there are many who are poor without money or a home. When individuals have children, they are often unable to support them with food or housing, let alone schooling. Since the children are unable to go to school, they have time to work. Families tend to discover the more children they have, the more successful they are in surviving because the children can work or be sold. It is found that children in poor countries are the main contributors to family income.
Sources: Siddiqi, 2002 and Forbes, 1999
Effects:
At least one of the following character is followed by the child labour:
- Violates a nation’s minimum age laws
- Threatens children’s physical, mental, or emotional well-being
- Involves intolerable abuse, such as child slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, forced labor, or illicit activities
- Prevents children from going to school
- Uses children to undermine labor standards
"There is work that profits children, and there is work that brings profits only to employers. The object of employing children is not to train them, but to get high profits form their work." -Lewis Hine, 1908
Millions of children around the world face hazardous working conditions. The children's future and development are in great danger. They face dangerous accidents and are treated poorly by employers. Many suffer from loss of eyesight, constant back and neck pains, cuts, deformation of fingers, and lung diseases (asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, or cancer). Because of the cheap wages they receive they are unable to get treatments even with injuries that are treatable. Millions die every day for the lack of medical attention.Children's innocence is lost. The experiences of childhood diminished and are scared for life, all due to the need for cheap labor.
Education could mean freedom from oppression and poverty. However, these desperate parents do not encourage the children to attend school and they do not emphasize the importance of knowledge. There are many children who would like to attend school. Twelve-year-old Furman Owens, said to photographer Lewis Hine, "Yes I want to learn but can't when I work all the time."
Crime groups have organized to take advantage of the lack of enforcement of the law. Corruption of many government officials and their fear of the violent criminal syndicates interfere with the improvement of millions of children worldwide.For example:As with the case of 14-year-old Costa Rican prostitute named Ivette, who was sexually exploited, murdered, and chopped up into pieces in December of 2000. Stories like Ivette's have not found justice, almost all of the perpetrators who commit such heinous crimes are still free.
Where does most of child labour occur?
Of an estimated 215 child laborers around the globe:
approximately 114 million (53%) are in Asia and the Pacific;
14 million (7%) live in Latin America;
and 65 million (30%) live in sub-Saharan Africa.
Child labor can be found in nearly every industry:-
Agriculture:
An estimated 60% of child labor occurs in agriculture, fishing, hunting, and forestry. Children have been found harvesting:
- bananas in Ecuador
- cotton in Egypt and Benin
- cut flowers in Colombia
- oranges in Brazil
- cocoa in the Ivory Coast
- tea in Argentina and Bangladesh
- fruits and vegetables in the U.S.
Manufacturing:
Photo: David Parker
About 14 million children are estimated to be directly involved in manufacturing goods, including:- Carpets from India, Pakistan, Egypt
- Clothing sewn in Bangladesh; footwear made in India and the Philippines
- Soccer balls sewn in Pakistan
- Glass and bricks made in India
- Fireworks made in China, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, and Peru
- Surgical instruments made in Pakistan
Mining and Quarrying:
Photo: David Parker
Child laborers suffer extremely high illness and injury rates in underground mines, opencast mines, and quarries. Children as young as 6 or 7 years old break up rocks, and wash, sieve, and carry ore. Nine-year-olds work underground setting explosives and carrying loads. Children work in a range of mining operations, including:- Gold in Colombia
- Charcoal in Brazil and El Salvador
- Chrome in Zimbabwe
- Diamonds in Cote d’Ivoire
- Emeralds in Colombia
- Coal in Mongolia
Domestic Service:
Many children, especially girls, work in domestic service, sometimes starting as young as 5 or 6. This type of child labor is linked to child trafficking. Domestic child laborers can be victims of physical, emotional, and sometimes sexual abuse.
Hotels, Restaurants, and Retail:
Sources:
http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/TTQ02189/effects.htm
http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/what_is_child_labor.html
Practical view about child labour:-
Apple admits using child labour:
Apple has admitted that child labour was used at the factories that build its computers, iPods and mobile phones.
Apple has been repeatedly criticised for using factories that abuse workers and where conditions are poor.
Photo: EPA
At least eleven 15-year-old children were discovered to be working last year in three factories which supply Apple.
The company did not name the offending factories, or say where they were based, but the majority of its goods are assembled in China.
Apple also has factories working for it in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, the Czech Republic and the United States.
Apple said the child workers are now no longer being used, or are no longer underage. "In each of the three facilities, we required a review of all employment records for the year as well as a complete analysis of the hiring process to clarify how underage people had been able to gain employment," Apple said, in an annual report on its suppliers.
Apple has been repeatedly criticized for using factories that abuse workers and where conditions are poor. Last week, it emerged that 62 workers at a factory that manufactures products for Apple and Nokia had been poisoned by n-hexane, a toxic chemical that can cause muscular degeneration and blur eyesight. Apple has not commented on the problems at the plant, which is run by Wintek, in the Chinese city of Suzhou.
Anthropology of child labour / 57
Extent unemployment problems also will be minimized. The main philosophical theory y behind this measure is that if the total income of the household increases it is probable that parents may decide to remove children from work and put them to school. The presence of role models also plays a vital role in the change in attitude of the parents. However, it does not mean that providing subsidies to child laborer’s families will curtail the child labour problem. There remains a large possibility that they will use such subsidies for other purposes, which in turn could increase child labour by creating a more likely environment for employing children. However, in the case of India the dynamics of household behavior in spending on education depends on variety of factors relating to the households. As Tilak (1999) observed, it is not true to hold the view that household in economically advanced states who belongs to the lower strata of the society spend more on education, though they may have a higher ability to spend. In other words, we can interpret that the ability to spend and the actual level of spending do not go together in those community people. Also it has been revealed that public spending on education positively influences on the household decision to spend money on education.
Anthropology and child labour
By D. C. Nanjunda
Child Labour: Unavoidable or Unjust?
In Pakistan, children at young age are forced to have a tool in there hand instead of a cricket bat or a pencil. This is why they never taste the beauty of childhood. They are forced to think maturely at a very tender age, and by the time these children become adults they already have developed such a personality where they find hatred all over, yet passing this cruelty to their next generation. Another problem is that children in Pakistan are deprived of any rights, proper education policy or proper facilities.
These children are our future, now it’s our duty to decide if we want hammers in their hand or a pencil.
These children are our future, now it’s our duty to decide if we want hammers in their hand or a pencil.
Shk.Shakeel Ahsan
shk.shakeelahsan@gmail.com
shk.shakeelahsan@gmail.com
Re: Child Labour: Unavoidable or Unjust?
Well, it cant be justified under any circumstances, the Lower Class lacks the knowledge of importance of family planning, and never bothers about the aftermath of having so many children. It is kind of entertainment for this class of people in our part of the world which results in a turmoil that effects the children because they are made to work so that they can earn for themselves because their father is unable to feed or educate his children. I mean to say that if the children cant be afforded then why give birth to them and give them the punishment which their parents deserve.
Shk.Shakeel Ahsan
shk.shakeelahsan@gmail.com
shk.shakeelahsan@gmail.com
Re: Child Labour: Unavoidable or Unjust?
Not Utopian, completely doable - in theory. You're correct in that even a fraction of the billions that are spent on purchasing in violence in Pakistan could be effectively rerouted towards education. But the big problem would be how to administer the funds? Through BISP? Through NADRA? Can you just imagine how much corruption and theft would occur of these funds earmarked for students and their families, particularly in a country with, by some estimates, as many as 30,000 'ghost' schools? But it's good to hear out of the box thinking on this serious problem.
Current status by graph:
The Declaration
Adopted in 1998, the Declaration commits Member States to respect and promote principles and rights in four categories, whether or not they have ratified the relevant Conventions.
These categories are: freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of forced or compulsory labour, the abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
The Declaration makes it clear that these rights are universal, and that they apply to all people in all States - regardless of the level of economic development. It particularly mentions groups with special needs, including the unemployed and migrant workers. It recognizes that economic growth alone is not enough to ensure equity, social progress and to eradicate poverty.
This commitment is supported by a Follow-up procedure. Member States that have not ratified one or more of the core Conventions are asked each year to report on the status of the relevant rights and principles within their borders, noting impediments to ratification, and areas where assistance may be required. These reports are reviewed by the Committee of Independent Expert Advisers. In turn, their observations are considered by the ILO's Governing Body.
The Declaration and its Follow-up provides three ways to help countries, employers and workers achieve the full realisation of the Declaration’s objective. Firstly, there is an Annual review composed of report from countries that have not yet rectified one or more of the ILO Conventions that directly relate to the specific principles and rights stated in the Declaration. This reporting process provides Governments with an opportunity to state what measures they have taken towards achieving respect for the Declaration. It also gives organizations of employers and workers a chance to voice their views on progress made and actions taken.
Next, the Global report each year provides a dynamic global picture of the current situation of the principles and rights expressed in the Declaration. The Global Report is an objective view of the global and regional trends on the issues relevant to the Declaration and serves to highlight those areas that require greater attention. It serves as a basis for determining priorities for technical cooperation. Technical corporation project, the third way to give effect to the Declaration, are designed to address identifiable needs in relation to the Declaration and to strengthen local capacities thereby translating principles into practice.
Final entry:
Final entry:
Since October 6th, I have been researching on child labour, whether it should be legal or not. My research has included several images, video clips, websites, and Google books. Three key aspects of my research which are included in blog are Kielburger, Craig. “It Starts With Me.” Guideposts November 1999 Parker, Hugh G. “Child Labor.” Encyclopedia Americana. 1991 ed. Holstein, The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.
Child labour is very serious global issue. There have been many debates all over the world whether it should be a legal or illegal. There are two different points on this subject. Many of the people argue that child labor is practically and morally wrong for children and there is no matter how poor their parents are. Most corporations that support it argue that it is good because it give a hope to poor families and increases their income source. Child labour got its birth from development of domestic systems. In England and America, it was very widely practiced between 16 to 18th centuries. Most of children get very little payment for their work even most children work in very severe and hazardous conditions continuously for long hours. Children mostly worked in mines, factories, domestic services, hotels and restaurants and other hazardous places. Many families even sold their for sake of some money. Children were one of the source of income for families. Nowadays it is considered illegal in many countries and strict laws has been made for it. As an example, there is a law that each child has to go to school until he or she is 16.In many under developed countries child labor can still be found at large extent. According to laws, children should not be forced to do labour. Many of them work under slavery. Children are abused, starved and sometime never been paid for work. Children who are putt to work loss their chances to educate always become mentally weak. In many surveys in had been noticed that most of the working children even do not know about schools. About 36% males and 61% females are illiterate in India. The children who word in early ages develop severe health problems. In some places child labour is compulsory as poor families need extra money for survival. Poverty is the first main reason why children work. (Melara-Kerpelman, 1996.) Revealed that 63.74% said the reason they worked was poverty. In most countries child labour exists due to the fact that it hasn’t had strict programs to put off child labour. Some programs made by countries did not work due to unavailability of money. And this shortage of money is because of economic poor conditions of that country. Not all of the places where children work in third world countries are dangerous and dirty. Some major corporations move their businesses to places like Pakistan and China because the people there will work for less. Many times the people who work in these factories are children. Practical surveys revealed that each child in India, Pakistan, china earn about $1.81 per day. It is obvious that the conditions and amount they receive is needed to improve largely. It is the responsibility of government to pass an act that truly work and put off child labour. Many organizations are currently working to improve conditions of children. FTC (free the child) is one such organization that is trying reduce the burden from children.
I had concluded from my research that children should never be forced to work in their underage. They should not be forced to put in prison of work. Each child should be given the chance to live their freely before they got put into work.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labour
http://www.ilo.org/declaration/info/publications/lang--en/docName--WCMS_095895/index.htm
