A recent comment by a friend of mine provoked me to take a look at the arguments for child labor. They are weak, but have enough merit for me to address them - and then shut them down.
According to a recent study by the Royal Economic Society, banning child labor is misguided, does more harm than good, and can damage the economy and living standards of many families in developing nations. Labor by children contributes more money to their potential education, the study says, and forcibly removing children from work could have adverse effects on their wages and the family's welfare.
I agree. There's nothing more foolish than to take kids out of work, put them into school, and expect the family to adjust and recuperate. That's where the complexity of child labor comes in. In order to build and sustain an effective, populated school system, there must be an "alternative income", or another way for the family to earn money and sustain themselves. Therefore, the best way to tackle child labor is to focus on eliminating poverty, because only then can kids be able to go to school and break the cycle of poverty.
The thing is, often times rescuing kids from child labor might have the right reasons, but the wrong result. In 1993, Bangladeshi children were whisked away from their factory jobs and put into crude, falling apart schools. Within six months, they were found homeless and begging on the streets, even worse off than before. So, no, child labor is not a good thing. But it's a lot more complicated than we think it is.
According to a recent study by the Royal Economic Society, banning child labor is misguided, does more harm than good, and can damage the economy and living standards of many families in developing nations. Labor by children contributes more money to their potential education, the study says, and forcibly removing children from work could have adverse effects on their wages and the family's welfare.I agree. There's nothing more foolish than to take kids out of work, put them into school, and expect the family to adjust and recuperate. That's where the complexity of child labor comes in. In order to build and sustain an effective, populated school system, there must be an "alternative income", or another way for the family to earn money and sustain themselves. Therefore, the best way to tackle child labor is to focus on eliminating poverty, because only then can kids be able to go to school and break the cycle of poverty.
The thing is, often times rescuing kids from child labor might have the right reasons, but the wrong result. In 1993, Bangladeshi children were whisked away from their factory jobs and put into crude, falling apart schools. Within six months, they were found homeless and begging on the streets, even worse off than before. So, no, child labor is not a good thing. But it's a lot more complicated than we think it is.
I did not say that it was good. I was asking isn't the economy somewhat dependent on child labor. Still, you did not completely answer my question, but thank you for your time
ReplyDeleteArjun,
ReplyDeleteI believe that child labor is a horrible abomination that needs to be eradicated for the human race to "evolve" socially. However, Matthew brings up a good point. Don't a good portion of US international companies which require manufacturing (Samsung, Apple, Hershey's to name a few) use child labor (knowingly or not) to increase their bottom line? Isn't it also true that these companies also help greatly buffer the US economy? Therefore, child labor indirectly helps buffer the US economy.
Q.E.D.
I rest my case.
Slavery directly helped buffer the US economy. In fact, slavery was the basis of the Southern economy. But we got rid of slavery....And so we can get rid of child labor. It is true that our economies are loosely tied to child labor. But as it has been done before in history, it can be eradicated.
DeleteHi Arjun,
DeleteHow does slavery relate to child labor? Really? read this: www.whatsyourbelief.wordpress.com. I found that online somewhere and it has A LOT of GOOD POINTS, unlike you.
Thanks,
Joe Jones
I'd prefer if you'd be a little more respectful in pointing out your objections with my points. I have researched for over a year on this issue.
DeleteThat aside, the connection is obvious. Slavery and child labor are identical in two respects - They are both morally wrong, and they both are tied to the economies of their respective areas.
I think we can both agree that slavery and child labor are human rights violations, and are both morally wrong. We know that slavery was the basis of the Southern economy, and that child labor is very important to the economies of developing countries. Therefore, child labor is similar to slavery in those two respects. I appreciate your questions, and thanks.
Hi Arjun,
DeleteI think you should be more respectful to the users who actually read your blog. You should thank them for reading your blog and not be so mean and remove people's comments.
I appreciate your work, but I hope you may respect your readers and allow them to express their views.
Best Regards,
Bobby McJohnson
Thanks. I appreciate everybody who reads my blog, especially when they express their own opinions. That is not an issue.
DeleteI think you're taking my comment administration strategy the wrong way. While I have full respect for 181Anonymous181, as I have stated below, his question was out of place. That is the sole reason I removed it, not out of any lack of respect and nastiness.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletewow... was i being disrespectful? i thought it was a perfectly good argument to ask. actually, i believe that is the only basis for why freethechildren fails...
DeleteSo, i ask again... do you believe in a religion? and if so, which one?
DeleteI do not believe that Free the Children fails. In fact, it is a highly successful organization, having freed more than a million child laborers and kept them in school. Why would you believe that religion is the basis on which FTC fails? Please explain your argument a little bit more.
DeleteI'm sorry, but as I have told Bobby McJohnson, your question is personal and out of place. Division is one of the thing I absolutely despise in this world. People are people - We share the same planet, can we not unite as one? Child labor is a worldwide human rights violation, and religion or not, we have to come together in other to stop it.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Arjun,
ReplyDeleteI think that you should not censor out that post. Anonymous asked a legit question, so why did you remove it? I think that you should respect other people before you ask others to respect you. I'm sorry if I sound harsh.
Thanks,
Bobby McJohnson
Thanks for your input. I have complete respect for 181Anyonymous181 - However, I feel as if a question about my religion is personal, and out of place in a blog that condemns child labor. Child labor is an international human rights violation that is morally wrong, so why should it matter what religion we are?
DeleteEvery one of us should come together in order to make the world a better place.
Hi Arjun,
DeleteAren't your views on child labor also personal?
Yep, i think that bobby mcjohnson's comment is also legit. your views are personal...
ReplyDeleteIf both my views on child labor and my religion are personal, then I have a right to dictate what I give away and what I don't. I have chosen to share my views on child labor and to keep my religion to myself. This is the final word I have to say on the matter.
Deleteur religion dictates how you will live and also where you believe you will go when you die.
ReplyDeleteon the other hand... child labor help is like giving a well to the poor? to provide fresh water? and you aren't doing anything but advocating it?
what will happen to you after you die is much more important than this miniscule problem... and yes i still have "full" respect for ur views too
That's legit.
DeleteSorry, but calling child labor a minuscule problem is absolutely disgusting to hear. If you stoop low enough to do this sort of thing, then no, you do not have full respect for my views.
DeleteI am not advocating child labor. My goal is to raise awareness through this blog about the issue, so more people can know about it and do something about it. Religion dictates as much as you want it too; You can talk about religion, or you can talk about solving an important human rights violation such as child labor.
Funny how both your comments arrived at the exact time...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI meant to post about a paper on religion and natural selection by Vladimir Dinets - makes an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteThe guy is sometimes biased though since he's an atheist.
DeleteMeow :3
ReplyDelete