The Affect of Child Labor on the World

The Affect of Child Labor on the World

Introduction

Child labor is a very hot topic in today’s world. The problems associated with child labor have always been a part of life but thanks to Globalization, everyone is now more aware of the child labor issues that exist. Whether an individual is in favor or against child labor the fact is that child labor affects everyone, because child labor affects the global economy. Children who work play a big role in the economy because they produce goods and are paid wages just like adults; they are an active participant of the work force.

Child Labor Issues

It is estimated that more than 200 million children across the globe between the ages of 5-17 work instead of going to school. And of these, 171 million work in hazardous conditions. Even though child labor was widespread during the eighteenth century it was not until the industrial revolution that society began to realize the seriousness of abuses on children that worked. In the past children generally worked alongside their families to help the family survive, but those conditions were not as severe as when children began working more than ten-hour days in factories and in adverse conditions like those seen during the industrial revolution. There are many other factors that cause child labor such as poverty, social values and cultural circumstances but they tend to be complex to understand. It can be said that child labor is more widely seen in developing and third world countries than that of developed. This is due in part to the poverty that the majority of these people live in, and then children are forced to work to help support the family. Asia has the highest number of children below the age of 15 that work wi...

... middle of paper ...

...y with child labor.

Conclusion

Forturnatly, many organizations and individuals feel very strongly about protecting children and are trying to develop solutions to many of the problems associated with child labor and also to help protect the rights of children in the work place and in general. The International Labor Organization is an agency that is trying to develop a strategy to help prevent children form loosing their childhood and education by being forced to work. Other agencies such as UNICEF are protection agencies that advocate the protection of children’s rights.

References

Basu, Kaushik. Sep, 1999. Journal of Economic Literature, Vol. 37 No.3.

American Economic Association.

Children’s Rights. Oct. 2004

www.hrw.org/children/labor.htm

Children in the Global Economy. Oct. 2004

www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/globableconomy/children.cfm