Child Labor
Is child labor necessary?
What is Child Labor?
Child labor is work that harms children. It is cruel and harmful for children's health and education.
Background
In the Industrial Revolution, children were frequently put to work in factories and mines. Boys and girls as young as 6 years old would work 12 to 16 hours a day. They would be beaten by their bosses if they fell asleep on the job. This all occurs because children are working for their families. At that time, there were a lot of families in poverty.
Reasons
- children can be paid less than adults
- due to their size, children can fit in small spaces
- children are hired because their families are extremely poor
- there are governments that don't even bother to enforce child labor laws
- work unions make it more difficult to improve the living standards and completely remove child labor
Pros
- some children might work with their families
- the Trade and Development Act provides money to IPEC and new funding for educational programs in developing countries
- IPEC: goal is to eliminate child labor by strengthening countries and promoting a worldwide movement to combat child labor
- if the work is appropriate and provides food, shelter, and education then it is ok
- children that get fired from textile factories work in more harmful places, so working in textile factories may be safer
Cons
- children are exposed to pesticides and heavy loads
- no access to drinking water or toilet privileges
- for domestic servants: children , mostly girls, are victims of physical, emotional and sexual abuse
- the productivity of children employees make the adult employees jealous
- in the US workforce, agricultural work is the most hazardous when working as migrant workers with families
Children from 5 to 14 yrs engaged in Child Labor from 1998-2008
Conclusion
When we hear child labor, we think it as a crucial situation. Yes, UNICEF sees it as a wrongful matter ,but other countries ignore the laws. To answer the essential question, I say that child labor is NOT necessary. Even though a few companies will provide food, shelter and education for the children, they still might change in the future. We cannot risk the abuse and hazards of children to rise in the working industry. I believe companies should ban hiring children. If their families are poor, then make some programs. Children do not need harsh conditions on their body. Plus, children need their education, so they can get real careers and earn money for their families. Child labor is a cruel and harmful act, so children must be exempted from this issue. Furthermore, I believe that child labor is certainly not necessary.
Bibliography
Child Labor." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8 Dec. 2015.
Dubont, Marion. "Debating on Child Labor | Wizness." Debating on Child Labor | Wizness. N.p., 2010. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
History.com Staff. "Child Labor." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
"ILO." About the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) (IPEC). N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.
"What Is Child Labor?" - The Child Labor Education Project. N.p., 2000. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.