Child Labor In The United States

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Child Labor

Child labor has been an issue in many countries for many years. Even though countries such as America has banned child labor, other poorer countries still struggle with child labor law. According to International Labor Organization child labor is defined as, “Children or adolescent participating in work that affects their health and personal development or interfere with their school” (International). Child labor can also be defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. Child labor can be considered whenever a work is mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous and harmful to a child. If a child work interferes …show more content…

America for example used children in factories because they were small and could move in small spaces in factories or mines where adult could not fit. They were also easier to manage and control and they could be paid less than adults. It was not until the market crashed when the public changed their mind about child labor. In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s when factories in countries such as England and America expanded and started to use machine rather than hand labor child labor became a major issue. As stated in a History of Child Labor by Milton Fried, children were put to work for twelve to eighteen years a day six days a week to earn a dollar. As stated by Milton, “ In 1810, about two million School age children were working up to 50 to 70 hours a week” …show more content…

The bad financial issue that country face today contribute greatly to the growth in child labor. With the bad economy that the country is facing today, parents are left to send their children to work places. According to research done by Hassaan Bin Nasir post graduate at Medical Center, “Due to unemployment it has become compulsion of parents to make their children to work in factories, shops, even selling items on streets” (Nasir). Here, in America, child labor still exist, it may not be as popular as it is in the developed world, and however, it is still happening. These children mostly work in tobacco farm. They are exposed to nicotine, toxic pesticide to name a few. According to Humans Rights Watch, these tobacco workers usually work 50-60 hours a week. They have reported serious symptoms such as vomiting, skin rashes etc...(Human Rights Watch,

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