Child Labor

Running head: CHILD LABOR

CHILD LABOR

Sidna Jattan

MGT/216

December 06, 2009

Kristi Palm

Child labor refers to employment of underage children. This is an unethical business practice that has existed for many years. Millions of children worldwide are being exploited due to their families and countries poverty. This practice is considered exploitation by many international companies and is illegal in many countries. The practice of child labor existed throughout history, but was publicly disputed when the implementation of public schooling and with changes in working environment during the Industrial Revolution. In many countries it is considered exploitation if a child under a certain age works. An employer in many countries, are not permitted to hire children under a certain age. These minimum age requirements, varies depending on country and nature of work. Child labor laws in the United States (US) set the minimum age to work, without parents consent, for children at 16 years old.

During the Industrial Revolution, many children as young as four and five years worked in factories. These children were required to work under hash, dangerous and sometimes fatal conditions. During this time children were employed in factories and mines and as chimney sweeps, and many worked 80 hours a week as domestic servants. The Revolution caused misery for both American and England. In the Lancashire cotton mills where children worked 16 hours a day, starting from the age of 6. The children were beaten to keep them from falling asleep while working, many because of this, mutilated and beaten to death. A high number of young children also worked as prostitutes. They worked these immoral and dangerous jobs, trying to make money to help their poverty stricken families. The Website Children of the 1800’s, stated; in 1819 the Factory Acts were passed to regulated working children to 12 hour days. The Royal Commission recommended in 1833...