Corporate America And Child Labor Laws

Introduction

Corporate America growing beyond a manufacturing country has started to move their operations to other countries at a cheaper cost. In doing this, they are exploiting the greatest resource, the children. In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was implemented to protect American workers, including the children. These laws protect American children; however, they do not protect the children in other countries we invade to do the jobs our nation does not want to perform. What does this tell other countries, that we will protect our own and that we do not care about others? To answer this question an understanding of the FLSA is needed. I will research the history of the FLSA concerning child labor. I will also do research on the International Labour Organization in regards to child labor. By doing the research, I will have a better understanding of how Corporate American can help in protecting children in other countries.

Statistical Information

The following information is statistical information to form a base to the problem of child labor throughout the world.

Child labor conditions:

* Full time work at a very early age

* Dangerous workplaces

* Excessive working hours

* Subjection to psychological, verbal, physical and sexual abuse

* Obliged to work

* Work and life on the streets in bad conditions

* Limited or no pay conditions

* Inability to escape from the poverty cycle - no access to education

(http://antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/childlabour.htm)

It is noted that children can start to work as early as 5 years old. This is too early for children to be required to work. They do not have any type of childhood, or enrichment of life. The conditions the children work in are horrendous. Children are chained to their work areas, and they are not allowed to move around. The people in the United States would not tolerate this, and would rage war on the government through protests. The conditions we are accustomed to in the United States should be mirrored overseas.

Reasons for child labor:

* Most children work because their families are poor and their labor is necessary for their survival. Discrimination on grounds including gender, race or religion also plays its part in why some children work

* Children are often employed and exploited because, compared to adults, they are more vulnerable, cheaper to hire and are less likely to demand higher wages or better working conditions. Some employers falsely argue that children are particularly suited to certain types of work because of their small size and "nimble fingers".

* For many children, school is not an option. Education can be expensive and some parents feel that what their children will learn is irrelevant to the realities of their everyday lives and futures. In many cases, school is also physically inaccessible or lessons are not taught in the child's mother tongue or both.

* As well as being a result of poverty, child labor also perpetuates poverty. Many working children do not have the opportunity to go to school and often grow up to be unskilled adults trapped in poorly paid jobs, and in turn will look to their own children to supplement the family's income.

(http://antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/childlabour.htm)

A growing trend in countries with child labor under the age of fifteen is using their children as soldiers of war. "There are about 300,000 child soldiers involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide, some even younger than ten years old." (http://antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/childlabour.htm) These children are used as the frontline of combat. Some countries view their young girls as sex toys to please the adult soldiers. These children are left with a lifetime of trauma, which will never be healed.

The scope of things:

* The International Labour Organization estimates there are 246 million working children aged between five and seventeen

* 179 million are estimated to work in the worst forms of child labor

* 111 million children under fifteen are in hazardous work and should be immediately withdrawn from this work

* 8.4 million children are in slavery, trafficking, debt bondage and other forms of forced labor, forced recruitment for armed conflict, prostitution, pornography and other illicit activities

* Girls are particularly in demand for domestic work

* Around 70 percent of child workers carry out unpaid work for their families

(http://antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/childlabour.htm)

I am fearful that these statistics will not lower without the help of the United States. With the need of lower costs in production, United States manufacturers are moving their production areas overseas. In doing this the lower waged workers will become increasingly important. Corporate America, when looking at moving their production facilities should research the countries and develop a better understanding of their cultural work habits.

Many overseas countries lack in education. If the people in these underdeveloped countries were to receive education, they would have the potential to increase their country's economics. An introduction to educational programs could give workers the opportunity to bring growth and worth into their lives.

History of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

A young girl's voice is heard in 1936, which sets the pace for the next couple of years. During a campaign, rally in Bedford, MA for the re-election of Franklin D. Roosevelt, a small girl tries to hand a letter to the president. Security pushes the girl away; even so, President Roosevelt demands to see the letter. In the letter, the girl asks for help in receiving better wages for the girls in the clothing industry who at one time were paid $11 a week, and now only receive $4 - $6 a week. President Franklin is appalled and cries out to the press "Something has to be done about the elimination of child labor

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