Child Labor

Paper Summary:

The International Labor Organization estimates that there are at least 250 million working children between the ages of five and fourteen in developing countries. About half of them work full-time. This paper examines the arguments for and against child labor. Those in favor of child labor state that the income that these children bring in, usually save their families from starvation. They also argue that trade restrictions will only harm families these countries by limiting their income and slowing their development. The paper shows that those who argue against child labor state reasons such as the risk to the child's health and well-being, the fact that the child's educational possibilities are stunted and various forms of child abuse.

From the Paper:

"Conservative concerns that developing countries are just too poor to do anything about child abuse are inane. Even if their beliefs were true, there's simply no economic justification for exposing children to life-threatening working conditions, abuse, slavery, and situations that cause irreversible harm to their physical development. Child labor only perpetuates poverty for the child as well as the country. Because developing countries are in a better position than developed countries were in when they began implementing child labor regulations, preventing "hazardous child labor" is really about a decision and commitment by developed and developing countries to place more value on the child's life. Government intervention through the creation and enforcement of laws is needed, not waiting for free trade to somehow magically convert unethical business people into humanitarians."

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