Interconnecting Natural And Cultural Factors Involved In Child Labour

Child labour is the result of many interconnecting natural and cultural factors. The more factors in a certain location, the more child labour there will be. Because of this, wherever we see child labour as being concentrated we will find a wide range of these factors interacting. These factors can have up to three major effects on a location. Firstly, children are vulnerable to becoming involved in child labour. Secondly, child labour is seen as being necessary and thirdly, child labour is seen as being desirable. *Please note that unless stated otherwise, all facts are from the ILO (International Labour Office)*

Some natural and cultural factors can make children vulnerable to becoming involved in child labour. Cultural factors include:

Fewer expenses mean more profit for the companies.

Also: In India, BT Cotton uses genetically modified cotton. It may seem unrelated at first, but when you realise that there is less space for fingers to reach in to pick said cotton and also that children have smaller fingers, then they will be able to pick cotton more efficiently without sustaining injuries, so child workers are desirable. Also, the cotton plants are 2-3 feet tall, a perfect height for children to pick.

Cheap labour - Children are not as intimidating when discussing pay compared to fully grown men/women, so it is easier for them to be exploited when negotiating pay.

For example: Around the world child workers are paid a lot less than they should be. Working a 7 hour day in the Philippines – as a child – earns people $5.00NZD, which in New Zealand would earn them about $105.00NZD. This is a huge pay gap, but the big problem is that these children can be providing up to 30% of the household income. Also, in the DRC they are paid less than $1USD for a full day of work, a tiny amount that does not go very