Los Angeles Employment Lawyer

The Realities of Child Labor

In years past, it was normal, and even necessary, for children to help around the house with family chores and with the family business—especially in families that relied on agriculture as their main source of income. Different countries have different laws regarding the appropriate age at which a child can begin working, and in the United States, this limit is set at 16-years-old.

With the introduction of mandatory education and the development of children’s rights, many countries have made laws similar to those in the United States regarding child labor, and in fact, the topic in general has become one of international interest.

Many countries around the world, especially developing nations, still employ children as a major part of the work force in industries such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. In fact, UNICEF reports that approximately 250 million children around the world between the ages of 2 and 17 are involved in child labor situations. Many of these industries, including military work, prostitution, and sweatshops, are jobs that can be especially detrimental to children.

While Western nations, like the United States and much of Europe, may frown upon countries that rely on child labor to sustain their economies, it is important for these nations to realize the economic role that children play in developing economies.

While child-labor is exploitative and dangerous in many situations, Western nations need to do more to end global child labor than just offer a disapproving word. Because child-labor fuels so many economies, developed nations need to offer economic solutions in addition to condemnations in order to end the cycles of child labor across the globe.

Contact a Los Angeles Child Labor Employment Attorney

If you have been the victim of child labor in the United States, or if you are aware of a child labor situation, contact Los Angeles child labor employment attorney Perry Smith today at 888-356-2529.