Child Labour Essay Example for Free

Child Labour Essay What is child labour? According to wikipedia, Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. In many countries child labour is a well known factor for employment, especially in the under developed places. Approximately 153 million children, aged between 5 and 14 are children that work in labour. Although, child labour is recognized as being children preforming work under the age of 18. There are approximately 218 million child labourers around the world. Making children do the work that adults should be doing is morally incorrect. There are many organizations that help broadcast (describe) the issue of child labour, but overall the issue is not overly recognized. The basic, easy definition of child labour is long hours of work on a full-time, regular basis, being treated abusively by the employer, either no acces or very poor access to any education. The jobs that would be considered child labour would be selling thins on the streets or working in someone elses house as a servant. Its not so much the work itself that’s bad, but how the child is treated, how many hours a day they work and whether the work prevents school attendance. Meaning that the work is not the only bad thing, it can do some good. It is the way that the child is treated that is the worse part, if the child is treated with respect and with part time hours, as well as having access to schooling, would be a great opportunity for the child. Although, that is not the case. The children are treated with poor respect, or none, which is the number one issue, they are not treated as equals. Development cooperation and poverty reduction are central aspects of Canada’s child labour strategy The number of child labourers fell by 16 percent between 2000 and 2004. Around one in three children in Sub-Saharan Africa are workers. While the percentage of child labourers is decreasing across Africa, there are actually more children in the workforce now than 10 years ago. Out of 10 working children, seven work in agriculture, two in services and one in industry. It is estimated to take $760 billion over 20 years to eliminate child labour completely. The estimated benefit in terms of better education and health is over $4 trillion, a six-to-one difference Child labour is defined as: Its not so much the work itself that’s bad, but how the child is treated, how many hours a day they work and whether the work prevents school attendance. In the worst cases, children are trapped in these situations by debts or outright slavery. Then there are extreme kinds of child labour. One type of what are called the â€Å"worst forms† of child labour is â€Å"hazardous work,† work that is very difficult and harmful to the child’s physical development. This includes anything from carrying heavy loads and using dangerous machinery to spraying pesticides and working in unclean environments. The other worst type of child labour is called â€Å"unconditional worst forms. † That means that no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how much is paid or how little the child does, it is illegal—even for adults. Every effort must be made to end this form of labour. This includes slavery, the buying and selling of a human being (called â€Å"human trafficking†), forced or bonded labour, using children in armed conflict, prostitution, pornography and involvement in drugs or any other illegal activity. there are some 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 years who are in economic activity in developing countries alone.? Child labour means that they toil in mines and quarries, are exposed to chemicals in agriculture, squat in crippling positions to weave rugs and carpets, and scavenge in rubbish piles. Too many are enslaved in bonded labour, isolated in domestic service, and traumatized and abused in the commercial sex trade. according to the World Bank over 70 per cent of child workers are unpaid family workers, especially in rural areas where working girls outnumber working boys. They are engaged in domestic service, agriculture, and small family enterprises, whether in rural or urban areas. This means that four in five children are not paid, or if they are paid it is much less than most legal minimum wages These children are forced to put at stake their education, their health, their normal development to adulthood, and even risk losing their lives. Child labour and the poverty cycle are intertwined. A family living in poverty cannot send their children to school. Therefore, in order to survive, children are forced to work and therefore receive little or no education. Children who grow up without an education are much more likely to remain in low-paying (and potentially dangerous) work. It also means that girls may marry young and have children young. The cycle begins again as the young family has children to support with very little income. However, child labour should not be automatically associated with children who engage in non-harmful work. Non-harmful work is part-time and does not stop children from having access to an education. It can be beneficial in the sense that is gives them an income and the ability to help to support their families. It is also important in many instances for children to gain useful social and work-related skills. Therefore, it is vitally important to not only eliminate harmful child labour, but to also support children who do have to work so that they are able to continue their studies and gain an education. Strict bans on child labour may cause more harm than good, forcing child to work in more underground and dangerous conditions than they would otherwise. These children are forced to put at stake their education, their health, their normal development to adulthood, and even risk losing their lives. Child labour and the poverty cycle are intertwined. A family living in poverty cannot send their children to school. Therefore, in order to survive, children are forced to work and therefore receive little or no education. Children who grow up without an education are much more likely to remain in low-paying (and potentially dangerous) work. It also means that girls may marry young and have children young. The cycle begins again as the young family has children to support with very little income. However, child labour should not be automatically associated with children who engage in non-harmful work. Non-harmful work is part-time and does not stop children from having access to an education. It can be beneficial in the sense that is gives them an income and the ability to help to support their families. It is also important in many instances for children to gain useful social and work-related skills. Therefore, it is vitally important to not only eliminate harmful child labour, but to also support children who do have to work so that they are able to continue their studies and gain an education. Strict bans on child labour may cause more harm than good, forcing child to work in more underground and dangerous conditions than they would otherwise.