Children At Work

Children At Work

Autonomy, Responsibility and Child Labor-Introduction and Conclusion

Child labor has recently become a very touchy subject throughout the world. Well known corporations and clothing and sporting goods distributors that have for decades been taking advantage of cheap labor in third world countries are seeing their names and images tarnished by allegations of child labor practices and obscene working conditions.

Child labor is nothing new to the world. It has been a part of almost every society in recorded history. From ancient times, children have been a part of the economic survival of their families, particularly in industries like the farming and crafting industries. What remains confusing is the exact definition that separates child labor from just children doing work. Child labor is meant to define unfair, abusive work whereas work is an important part of the sculpting of most children. There is no question in society that some forms of labor are acceptable and some are not. Children may work without being abused and in many countries and even some American cultures, it is both necessary and integral that children perform some laborious duties. The line between work and child labor is most commonly drawn where normal tasks are replaced with exploitative tasks and children are expected to do things that go well beyond the borders of inhumane. An example of this overstepping the boundaries is the following text taken from an actual court case in 1833 following an investigation into the practice of child labor during the British industrial revolution:

"Have you ever been employed in a factory? --Yes"

"At what age did you first go to work in one? --Eight"

"How long did you continue in the occupation? --Four years"

"Will you state the hours of labour at the period when you first went to the factory, in ordinary times? --From 6 in the morning to 8 at night."

"Fourteen hours? --yes"

"With what intervals for refreshment and rest? -- An hour at noon."

"When Trade was brisk what were your hours?--From 5 in the morning to 9 in the evening"

"Sixteen hours? --Yes"

"With what intervals at dinner? --An hour"

"During those long hours of labor could you be punctual, how did you awake?-- I seldom did awake spontaneously; I was most generally awoke or lifted out of bed, sometimes asleep, by my parents.