Child Labor in the U.S and Internationally, Week 3, Blog #2

The exploitation of child labor in the U.S and across the globe has been an issue for discussion and reform for decades. Child labour can be defined as the full-time employment of children who are under a minimum legal age. Child Labor is associated with poverty, inadequate educational opportunities, gender inequality, and health risks (Roggero, 2007). It is estimated that 96% of child workers reside in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Central America. Child labor in these countries still continues to occur as documented in in the film, "India-Working to End Child Labor." Although a law in India was passed in October 2006 banning child labor in hotels, restaurants, and as domestic servants, there continues to be high demand for children as hired help in the home.

Awareness and reform to child labor laws started in the United States after the industrial revolution. This was to include child labor laws in the United States set that set the minimum age to work in an establishment without restrictions and without parents' consent at age 16. According to the World Bank, the incidence of child labour in the world decreased from 25 to 10 percent between 1960 and 2003 (ILO, 2006). 

The personal impact it has on these children are everlasting in their lives.  Low school attendance and poor health are most serious negative consequences of child labor. Therefore child laborers grow up to be low-wage earning adults (Roggero, 2007). The exposure to unsafe working conditions also continue to be a problem in some less developed countries. It is estimated that 22,000 children every year die in work related accidents. The occupation that accounts for a high percentage of these accidents include mining, quarrying, forestry, agriculture, manufacturing and construction. 

The rights for children by all accounts appear to be progressing in the right direction. An education, protection against child labor and the essential human rights for our children should be of high importance to all of us. Although there has been a lot of change and reform, more can be done. Continued exposure and consequences of those violating child labor laws shows a continued effort to punish those responsible for these types of practices.



References:

Meehan, Ruth (director). "India: Working to End Child Labor" 2004. Online video clip. Arizona Universities Library Consortium. FMG Video On Deman. 

Roggero, P., Mangiaterra, V., Bustreo, F., & Rosati, F. (2007). The health impact of child labor in developing countries: Evidence from cross-country data. American Journal of Public Health, 97 (2), 271-5.