Does child labor harm children?

India
March 4, 2007 1:46am CST
How many children are made to work at an early age, destroying their health or hampering their education? I hope you will agree with me that child labor harms children or exploits them physically, mentally, morally or blocks their access to education. Do you think all works are bad for children? I think some kinds of work maybe completely unobjectionable, except for one thing about the work that makes it exploitative. For instance, a child who delivers newspaper before school might actually benefit from learning how to work, gaining responsibility, and earn a bit of money. But what if the child is not paid? Then he/she is being exploited, right? More boys than girls work outside their homes. But more girls work in some jobs, for instance, as domestic maids. Being a maid in someone's house can be risky. Maids typically are cut off from friends and family, and can easily be physically or sexually abused by their employers. This has to be prevented. Poverty is widely considered the top reason why children work at inappropriate jobs for their ages. But there are other reasons as well such as family expectations and traditions, abuse of the child, lack of good schools and day care, lack of health care, lack of public opinion that downplays the risk of early work for children, uncaring attitude of employers, limited choices for women, unemployment or underemployment of parents of child laborers. I think the following factors can prevent child labor to certain extent: - Increased family incomes - Education, that helps children learn skills that will help them earn a living. - Social services, that help children and families survive crisis, such as disease, or loss of home and shelter.
1 person likes this
3 responses
• Philippines
10 Mar 07
I do feel sorry for these kids who stayed out of school and work at an early age. This is one heck of an abuse! They deserve to enjoy their life and go to school. I hate the parents of these children who used their kids to earn money for them. Losers, as I may call them. And the government must take an appropriate action to stop this kind of cruelty to our young people.
• India
17 Mar 07
Thanks rogen for your response. You said it!. I do agree that an appropriate action from the govt only will help putting an end to such cruelty to children.
@simran1430 (1790)
• India
4 Mar 07
Child labour refers to children working under the age of 14 to earn their livlihood. to make the country free from chil labour, we must try to indulge in primary education in all children.
• United States
4 Mar 07
child labor is illegal. Atleast in the U.S, but it should be illegal everywhere. No Child should have to work.:( :(