Why Is Child Labor Important?

1208 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Eradication of child labor

Child labor is a problem of ethics and economics. Depriving children of a childhood, and an education, all while exposing them to hazardous materials and dangerous working conditions. Education is the first step towards breaking the loop of poverty. Educated individuals have the capability to apply for better paying jobs and therefore improve their economic standing. In a Unite for Sight article, a non-profit organization since 2000, specializing in healthcare, there was a quote that exemplified the vicious cycle that child labor puts families through, “A study conducted in Egypt found that many fathers couldn’t find work or were unemployed for health reasons that were a result of them having worked too long hours, in conditions that negatively …show more content…

Adam Smith claims that people look for work that would benefit them economically and socially. If the labor provides any benefit to them as a person, they will do the job. However if the labor proves to be detrimental and unfavorable, then it will not be sought after. With this in mind, it is easily understood that child labor is beneficial to families in developing countries, for if it weren't, it would not be in place today. Families reap the benefits of the labor when children make self …show more content…

As a result of this increase, the number of child laborers decrease. However, when child labor decreases, the average family income drops and the cycle repeats. In order to break this loop, the Royal Economic Society in England, a society of economists from around the United Kingdom, set out to promote economic prosperity, by providing solutions to real world issues since 1890, suggests that “Targeted anti poverty programs must implemented in order to reduce the number of child workers. By eliminating poverty, the percentage of child laborers will decrease.” (Harrison It's official: child labour is a good thing) By eliminating poverty, children will be removed from the workforce as they are no longer needed to support the family, but once these anti poverty programs run out of funding, or stop functioning properly, children will be thrust right back into the workforce as families will struggle to find a source of

Show More
Related

  • Catholic Community Services Helps Poverty-Stricken Community in Utah

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    In recent years, the number of children whose families fall under the line of poverty has risen at an alarming rate. Crosson-Tower (2013) postulated a reason for this increase when she said, “The recent weakening economy, a higher unemployment rate, unprecedented numbers of home foreclosures and a decline in the safety net for children and their families have resulted in a gradual continuing increase in children living in extreme poverty” (p. 57). Apparently, nearly every aspect of the United States’ crumbling economy affects a family’s ability to meet basic needs. The rise in single parent, mother headed families has not helped poverty statistics because of the lower earning potential of women. A major reason so many children liv...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Live Free And Starve

    1131 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people take advantage of the fact that their government doesn’t really care about its citizens; as a result, the wealthy folks use it to their advantage. In order for one to survive, in a world where their government is either corrupted or lacking resources, they have to trigger strategies to increase income. In essence, the government is supposed to help its citizens since it’s the major source of power. However, in some countries, the government’s help is not enough due to lack of resources to support revolutionary projects. In the story “Live Free and Starve” the author Divakaruni expresses the ruthless and beneficial side of poverty. She states that in low economy countries, poverty is considered as normal for its hopeless citizens who have no hope whatsoever in revolution. As a result, they don’t even try to change the already working system for them. With that said I think that the poor hopeless slave is complacent in many ways with a job that probably a person in first world country would hate. Since a nation is lacking rules, people tempt to do whatever is benefiting them. There are many effects of that, but one of the most outrageous ones is unbelievably low wages, hiring kids and even buying them off their parents to do dirty and dangerous labor. Therefore poor working conditions and low hygiene are just some of the common condition, one works in. The demand for child labor is booming in third world countries. Divakaruni says that it’s impossible to prohibit children from working since that’s the only way they can survive. However she mentions that the solution is not to illegalizing child labor. The most beneficial way a society can have positive impact is through establishing programs for the ones in need of resources to survive. These programs would be strictly

    Read More

  • Sweat Shops

    522 Words  | 2 Pages

    All of my life I have considered myself as a person who loves children. I enjoy playing with them, helping them, and just being around them. So when I first agreed with corporations who use child labor I shocked myself completely. After examining two articles; one “The Case for Sweatshops”, by David R. Henderson, and two “Sweatshops or a Shot at a Better Life”, by Cathy Young, I came to the conclusion that in some cases when young children work under proper conditions it can keep them out of the streets and be helpful to them and their families.

    Read More

  • Child Labor

    1721 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout time children have worked myriad hours in hazardous workplaces in order to make a few cents to a few dollars. This is known as child labor, where children are risking their lives daily for money. Today child labor continues to exist all over the world and even in the United States where children pick fruits and vegetables in difficult conditions. According to the article, “What is Child Labor”; it states that roughly 215 million children around the world are working between the ages of 5 and 17 in harmful workplaces. Child labor continues to exist because many families live in poverty and with more working hands there is an increase in income. Other families take their children to work in the fields because they have no access to childcare and extra money is beneficial to buy basic needs. Although there are laws and regulations that protect children from child labor, stronger enforcement is required because child labor not only exploits children but also has detrimental effects on a child’s health, education, and the people of the nation.

    Read More

  • Satire Essay On Child Labour

    736 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another example is that the children voluntarily join the workforce to support themselves.family. For example, an expert stated, “Poor children can contribute to the family income….Poor children can work to pay tuition fees” (“5 Positive Sides of Child Labor” 1). Child labor may be good for countries in poverty but in rich countries, it is the exact opposite. This is because the economy in rich countries is stable and does not rocket back and forth like countries in poverty. However, child labor is still against the laws because even countries in poverty should employ men instead of

    Read More

  • Child Labor in the United States

    1478 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is Child Labor?Child Labor is work that harms children or keeps them from attending school. Around the world and in the U.S., growing gaps between rich and poor in recent decades have forced millions of young children out of school and into work. It is estimated that 215 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 are currently working under conditions that are considered illegal, hazardous, or extremely exploitative.1 Underage children work many different types of jobs that included commercial agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, mining, and domestic services. Some children were involved in illicit activities that included drug trade, prostitution, and other traumatic occupations that included serving as soldiers. Child Labor involved threatening children’s physical, mental, or emotional well- being. It involved intolerable abuse, such as slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, forced labor or illicit activities and prevented children from going to school.

    Read More

  • Child Labor

    1869 Words  | 4 Pages

    In conclusion I stand against the kind of child labour such as in Bangladesh which. Selling of kids to Big factories is immoral. On the other hand I do support the example set in Egypt and the family work units. They do more good than bad to the economy and save the government a lot of welfare money.

    Read More

  • Poverty Problem Essay

    1452 Words  | 3 Pages

    Poverty is such an important issue to address, not only for those suffering directly from it, but because high levels of poverty decrease GDP, damaging the economy, thus creating an endless, viscious cycle. “Not only is the reduction of poverty important for those affected, but it also has an impact on welfare spending,

    Read More

  • child labor

    582 Words  | 2 Pages

    Child labor happens all around the globe. In the United States there were children at the age of 15 years and younger working in factories, machinery and more. In the U.S. children had to work at least 10 hours a day back in 1800s. There are many reasons why children are being exploited. First of all, nothing much seems to be happening to prevent it. Child labor must be eliminated as quickly as possible, before many more children get trapped, like the millions ...

    Read More

  • Child Labor Essay

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Child labor is seen across all over the world and one of the main causes of child labor is poverty. Parents would often send their children off to work at a young age so they can get much needed income to survive. Child labor is mostly practiced in poor countries such as India, China, Japan, Pakistan, Ethiopia, South Africa, North Korea, etc. In the topic of poverty the two countries I will be talking about are India and China.

    Read More

  • Child Labor

    2364 Words  | 5 Pages

    Statistics indicate improvement in child labor issues, but trends can be reversed easily. Some child labor is more service-oriented and not a part that can be challenged by a boycott or legislation. Child labor in some countries involves being a servant who does not produce goods. Before identifying the consequences of child labor, probable causes and possible cures must be identified.

    Read More

  • Child Labor Essay

    1990 Words  | 4 Pages

    The child laborer can work in different fields. Some are engaged in agricultural labor, manufacturing, mining, domestic service, types of construction and also begging on the streets. Some are engaged in more dangerous conditions such as armed conflicts, commercial sexual exploitation, drug trafficking and also organized begging. These forms deprive children from freedom and human rights. Moreover, they certainly engender harmful effects. Children may receive no payment; they just take advantage of being fed and having a place where to sleep. They don’t have any protection in case they get sick or injured.

    Read More

  • Child Labor

    2143 Words  | 5 Pages

    Child Labor is not an isolated problem. The phenomenon of child labor is an effect of economic discrimination. In different parts of the world, at different stages of histories, laboring of child has been a part of economic life. More than 200 million children worldwide, some are as young as 4 and 5 years old, are slaves to the production line. These unfortunate children manufacture shoes, matches, clothing, rugs and countless other products that are flooding the American market and driving hard-working Americans out of jobs. These children worked long hours, were frequently beaten, and were paid a pittance. In 1979, a study shows more than 50 million children below the age of 16 were considered child labor (United Nation labors agency data). In 1998, according to the Campaign for Labor rights that is a NGO and United Nation Labor Agency, 250 million children around the world are working in farms, factories, and household. Some human rights experts indicate that there are as many as 400 million children under the age of 15 are performing forced labor either part or full-time under unsafe work environment. Based upon the needs of the situation, there are specific areas of the world where the practice of child labor is taking place. According to the journal written by Basu, Ashagrie gat...

    Read More

  • Child Labour: NOT Always Wrong

    1299 Words  | 3 Pages

    If a child has a part-time job, they can learn the value of money. So I believe that the issue of child labour is not simple. As Unicef’s 1997 State of the World’s Children Report argued, children’s work needs to be seen as having two extremes. On one hand, there is the destructive or exploitative work and, on the other hand, there is beneficial work - promoting or enhancing children’s development without interfering with their schooling, recreation and rest. ‘And between these two poles are vast areas of work that need not negatively affect a child’s development.’

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Child Labour

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    Without education children are unable to succeed and break the cycle of poverty therefore being unable to provide for there own family and forcing there own children into the workforce like generations before.6 Child labour often continues the cycle of poverty because children are overworked and economically exploited because they are paid at the lowest rates.7Child labor violates the basic right to a primary education and economically exploits children therefore promoting the cycle of

    Read More

More about Why Is Child Labor Important?

Open Document