126 million children worldwide are subject to child labor. Child labor refers to the employment of children for work that deprives them of childhood and an opportunity for an education. This harms the children physically, mentally, and socially. Oftentimes, the children subject to child labor do not have a choice. Some have to support their family financially, and others were forced to work for others.
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| Children operating a spinning machine |
During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as the age of six were employed in factories for little to no pay. Oftentimes, the factory owner would get away with not paying them nothing. Sometimes, the children would work up to 19 hours a day, with only a one-hour break in between. Not only were these children subject to long hours of work, but they also worked in dangerous, and often fatal, conditions. Large and heavy equipment surrounds the children as they work. An accident can cause a major injury, and possibly even death. Part of the reason that children were used in factories was because they had more nimble and agile fingers than adults. For example, the children can easily tie tight knots in a carpet industry. The treatment of the children in factories during the Industrial Revolution was often cruel. The people whom the children serve with would often physically or verbally abuse them. Furthermore, punishments such as having to carry a heavy weight on their neck would be given to the children who accidentally mess up when they work. Finally, in 1912, the Children's Bureau made it the US government's responsibility to monitor child labor. Then in 1916, the US Congress was pressured into passing the Keating-Owen Act. This was the first federal child labor law. It prohibited the sale in commerce of goods produced by factories that employed children under the age of 14. However, this act was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. So, in 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act (find out more http://prezi.com/zizqmp0mu35l/fair-labor-standards-act/). This placed limits on many forms of child labor. Any child under the age of 16 is not allowed to work in hazardous conditions. Child labor was a problem in the past, yet it still is a problem today in the present.
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| Child trafficking |
Currently, there are children involved with trafficking, soldiering, mining and manufacturing. These are all forms of child labor. Child trafficking is also a form of slavery that involves children for exploitation. The children are considered to be merchandise and can be moved from one country to another. Examples of exploitation includes sexual exploitation, forced services, practices similar to slavery, and even the removal of organs for money. Child soldiers are involved in armed political groups. Most of the child soldiers were abducted from their families and forced to become soldiers, but some joined an armed group for a chance of survival. They are used all over the world. An example of a military group is the Lord's Resistant Army (LRA), which is found in Uganda. Child mining is dangerous work for children. Children mine for diamonds, gold, salt, stone, and other other minerals or objects. Children work both above and under ground to find gold. When they work in tunnels, they risk death from explosions and tunnel collapse. The air is filled with dust and sometimes toxic. Additionally, constant exposure to salt is unhealthy for children because salt is corrosive. Children are still involved with the manufacturing business. They face dangerous accidents and are treated cruelly and poorly by their employers. Many children suffer from loss of eyesight, constant back pains, deformation of fingers, and even lung diseases. The experiences of childhood diminished all due to the need for cheap labor. Cadbury used to use African children to gather cocoa beans for their industry. As of 2010, Cadbury no longer uses African child labor in their main chocolate range. Their most popular diary milk range will also carry a fair trade logo to show ethical company behavior. As people who have freedom, we should use our freedom to help those who don't. Underneath this are some actions you can do to help children subject to child labor.
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| Child soldier |
What you can do:
- Spread awareness to family, friends, and neighbors about this issue
- Sign this petition to help the children of Uzbekistan that are subject to child labor:
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-forever-21-to-stop-forced-child-labor-in-cotton
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Pray for the children involved in child labor
Sites Used:
http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/TTQ02189/manufacturing.htm
