|
In some cases, I agree, child labour might be good thing. We are in danger of imposing our smug,
comfortable Western sensibilities on poorer countries which might suffer greatly as a result.
There was one famous case, I recall, which I think involved Nike. Nike had a factory manufacturing
sports shoes in some underdeveloped nation. Children being paid a pittance were working at the
factory. When campaigners in the West found out about this, they made a big public fuss about it.
They said that the children should be in school at that age, not in a factory. Nike was apologetic
and, in the end, closed the factory down. But with the work gone, the children didn't go to school.
Their families couldn't afford to send them to school. They just remained idle instead. Before, they
were actively contributing to help their struggling families survive; but not after.
We, in the West, need to realize that, in many poor countries, the alternative to child labour is
not education; it is idleness. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
We in the west tend to view child labour as exploitative of young people and to be avoided at all
costs.
As a historian I read a lot about child labour in Britain in the past and the terrible conditions
children endured especially during the Industrial revolution here.
The concept of childhood as we see it now is relatively new and dont exist as such even 150 years
ago. Children had few rights and were treated as small adults. They were cheap expendable labour.
We have moved so much from this idea of childhood that we have failed to see why it still exists in
other countries less fortunate than ours.
Perhaps the issue of child labour in developing countries needs to be looked at differently although
I don't think anyone would want to see the problem perpetuated through indifference on our part.
If education and better economic and social conditions were available throughout the developing
world the problem would be reduced in the future.
More legislation is needed to protect those children who have to work, for often they are the sole
wage-earners for their families and to prevent them from working at all would undermine the whole
family group.
What is unacceptable is exploitation, long working hours, dreadful conditions, low pay and harsh
treatment. These were the factors that led to the legislation to protect children here not so many
years ago.
We have a different perspective in our developed world.
The problem needs to be high on the list of priorities of all governments and we need to put
pressure on our politicians to help provide a voice for the children who most need the help to
escape exploitation and poverty and provide good alternatives. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Child labour can be helpful in developing countries. It can provide the child and their family with
a way of paying their way out of poverty. It gives the child a route to economic betterment and
gives them the chance to better themselves and their family by paying for other children’s
education or for the essentials that perhaps their parents cannot provide.
What’s the problem with a child having a job, I mean surely, it does not harm the child to do a
job of work? Surely children are as capable of certain functions as adults and if they were fairly
paid, it would not be a problem as long as they are treated well.
Surely child labour is only a problem when they are being exploited. I do not know if there exists
in the world forms of child labour that are not exploitative. However, I think it may - in some
parts of the world - be the only way for families to live. Learning a skill, a trade cannot be a
bad thing, it’s how the child is treated whilst they are in employment. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Ok...I usually have a lot more to say than this, but what? No way! The fact that it happens in
some third world countries doesn't make me want to run out and stop purchasing their products,
however, I do not believe it is ever a good thing. Children are precious and should be educated,
nurtured, given adequate rest and never used for cheap labor. It strips them of their chance to
have a childhood and robs them of innocence. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Child labor should be prohibited in any country. It is not fair. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Child labor is cruel and disgusting, I would never want anyone to be subjected to that, children
need education before they begin to work. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Children need to get an education so they can make a difference in their future! |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
I would like to disagree with this point that child labour could be a good thing in any way. The
child labour acts are doing nothing but taking away the valuable days from the children. Having a
very good childhood is the most indispensable thing for the proper nourishment of mind and soul in
future. How a child would project himself as a human being depends much on his childhood days. But
it is quite hard to take the regular view that the children are busy in laboring. I don’t get the
justification of people’s support to the child labour and I feel confused as well that how these
children labours could be a good thing to the developing countries. Children are not mature enough
to take the responsibility and it would be very uncomfortable to ask a child to do work according to
my order. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Having a proper childhood is essential to proper development as a human being. If a child in a third
world country does not learn like a child in a modern country, then nothing will change, because
they will likely grow up to be just like their third world parents. On the other hand, if there are
some natural leaders among the children that are mature enough to understand the predicament and are
willing to work, then that's another story. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
I'd have to disagree. Child Labour laws are basically taking their childhoods away. People complain
about working as adults, let alone children that really don't have the oppurtunity to speak for
themselves. We honestly don't help at all. These children learn everything that they know, work long
hours, and get paid barely anything. It is nice to be able to help your family in some ways, but I
do not believe in forcing an innocent child to work in those conditions. It's ALMOST as bad as
slavery. Children are not mature enough to handle that type of responsibility, and to be honest it
is very selfish to ask a child to carry that type of burdon at such a young age. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Children are forced into labor for a number of reasons; the fundamental one is poverty, which makes
families desperate for whatever insufficient salary a child can make to improve the income.
Another factor may include the inaccessibility of schools in developing countries due to fees and
they might think why not save money rather then let their kids buy shoes, books and uniform. Many
parents would rather teach their children a skill that may increase the family income than send
their children to a school that squanders both their time and money. This mean their child will work
like a mechanic or cook but it can’t make their child a cop or an engineer.
West is successful in eliminating the child labor we should be talking about how we can do it in
developing countries too and I think we can eliminate by giving education, which guides children to
understand their place in society – not as machines, but as human beings.
It wont help any under developed country's economy, cause cheap labour can be misuse in many
situation. Many dies of contagious diseases, other found in jails for crimes or charge of murders.
Children are exported and they goes through a lot of miseries, which destroys them and also makes
the country suffer |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
I am against child labour in developing countries because children stop going to school as they are
always busy working.Child labour also exposes children to diseases for example working in factories
with toxic substances.Children who involve in child labour are exploited because their labour is not
paid for or sometimes underpaid.We should say no to child labour in the developing countries and
respect children's rights |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Not a good idea! A country cannot progress through child labor. It is indeed a prevalent practice in
many poor countries. Unfortunately, they have to work like a slave to make ends meet for their
families. On the other hand, we see western kids sitting on the sofa all the time, playing video
games and getting fat. Both these two extremes are unhealthy.
Child is not mature enough to take part in the progress of nation. If we look at the broader
perspective, his input will be of no value. Government and families should provide for their
children’s education as growth of nation depends on its educated professionals.
A good childhood is foundation for tomorrow's happy life. Child labor deprives children from primary
education and happy moments of childhood. They become more likely to get exploited and being victim
of child abuse. That’s why it should be banned! |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
30 Dec 2007 23:59
Sign In
For and Against Recent Activity
