Child Labor

Child labor is one of the biggest issues around the world because it puts children in danger, it deprives them of an education, it is widespread and it's often hidden or invisible especially in agriculture, big industries and mines especially in poor countries.

In this document of child labor it's explain what the meaning of child labor is, why it exists, also why it is so widespread in poor countries. There are also examples of children working in deplorable conditions. This document also discusses the reason why parents send or allow their children to work in an environment as a result it finally mentions the possible solutions to end child labor.

Child labor is morally intolerable. It exists because it is the best response people can come up with to unacceptable circumstances. It is usually very dangerous because it involves of a child's future well being. One of the other reasons child labor exists it is because an associated reduction in investment in the child's human capital that occurs mostly because child labor interferes with education. (Udry, 2).

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated approximately 250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen. Child labor appeared in earlier ages in agricultures societies, but during the Industrial Revolution of the 18th. Child labor first appeared with the development of domestic systems. It was generally performed in England, America, and other countries. Many of these children worked in factories, mines and other horrible places. The problem begins when factories and mines employed children. They are forced to work long hours under dangerous conditions for little pay. They put up with abuse, starvation, and sometimes never being paid for their work. (Henne et al 2005)

In many countries, it is considered inappropriate or exploitative if a child below a certain age works, except for some household chores and of course schoolwork. An employer is often not allowed to hire a child below a certain age. This minimum age depends on the country. There is also no consideration for their safety or health.

Most of the very dangerous work that child laborers perform is Agriculture; especially in Latin America almost 250 million child laborers between ages 5 to 14 years old are estimated worldwide. Children usually work next to their parents on commercial farms and plantations. Child labor is a big problem in Latin America. A 26 % is estimated for children who are forced to work, they usually work long hours. These children harvest and cultivate coffee. Some children harvest bananas, sugar cane, sisal, tobacco, oranges, and other fruits and vegetables. They get up early to work in the damp and cold. Often barefoot inadequately dressed, they develop chronic coughs. They are exposed to the elements, risks bites from snakes and insects, and in many occasions, work without protective equipment while wielding dangerous tools such as machetes and working in close proximity to harmful pesticides. (The story of child labor)

In Colombia, there are approximately 2.5 million children that are forced to work to support their families. There are only 40 % of all children who attend to school the other 60 % leave school with a primary school completion. Most of these children work about nine ours each day, they don't get benefits and their wages are miserably low.

In the capital region of Guatemala, about five thousand children between the ages of 6 and 14 were found in secret and illegal workshops they were making fireworks and other explosives. These children were exposed to toxic, flammable, and explosive material. The workshop also didn't have any hygiene and safety measures. This caused the death of nine children who were injured while working in the industry. Four children survived their injuries. (The story of child labor)

Children in Bolivia work for the mining industry this is most found in the barren highlands. This is one of the last resorts of employment for the local people in this country. Potosi is one of the richest cities in the South America because of the silver mines that bankrolled the Spanish empire over 300 years. This mine industry is struggling and mine owners have preferred to cheap child labor to cut costs and squeeze out more profits.

This type of work is also very dangerous for the child laborers in this poor country. They have to shafts deep beneath the earth. They also have to break stones in quarries, fish off deep-sea platforms, and scavenge in garbage dumps. The 1999 ILO Worst Forms of child labor says that mining is one of the most egregious violations of child labor laws because children are subjected to backbreaking physical labor, hauling dynamite, debris, and water. They see deadly mine accidents, some relating their own parents. Many of these children who work in mines are not attending to school. (Henne et al)

Mining companies lack motivation to comply with the law. Instead, they receive children who will labor for low wages and boost company earnings. Poor families, with pressing short-term needs for shelter and food, fail to understand the long-term benefits of investing in their children's education. Lastly, the elimination of child mining requires well-designed, comprehensive strategies that improve the security of mining families by providing alternative income producing opportunities.

In manufacturing, children are employed in making a variety of goods, including shoes and sports goods. Another large population of child labor also exists in Bangladesh. A survey in 1995-1996 by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics found that approximately 6.6 million children worked as child laborers in Bangladesh. Most of these children work in exploitative jobs that prevented them having an education. They often work long hours for little pay and under hazardous conditions. (Henne et al)

Most of these child laborers work without any sort of protective clothing or gear, in work places that are poorly lit, poorly ventilated, and generally unsafe. There is a large number of children an estimated of 300,000 children as domestic servants in Dhaka. For example Nike, is one of the biggest industries that have been accused of using child labor was Nike the productions were done in Pakistan. Almost half of the world's of soccer ball are made in Pakistan, and each one of them passes through a process of production where child labor is involved. This problem not only pertains to Pakistan but also is worldwide. Nike is portrayed of making its equipments in countries that are in the developing phase, having very cheap labor, authoritarian government and lack of human rights appeal and union movement. In doing this it has