Running Head: CHILD LABOR 1

Child Labor in Third World Countries

Camryn Benbow

Arizona State University

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Abstract

Child labor is a problem many people over look. It is especially a problem in third world

countries. Children who work are young, and work in dangerous conditions. Children working in

the fields, mines, factories etc. are exposed to toxins which could potentially lead to death and

have an effect on their mental health. Children who work long hours deprive them from going to

school and getting an education. However, child labor is popular in third world countries because

many children need to work in order to help their family make a living.
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Many children around the world are constantly working to help make a living for their

family. However, child labor and working as a child are two different scenarios. According to the

International Labor Organization, child labor is defined as, “work that deprives children of their

childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental

development.” (ILO Conventions and Recommendations on Child Labour).

Child labor has been around since before the industrial revolution. Overtime, child labor

has become the “norm” in several countries because there many child laborers in today’s society.

According to Ortiz-Ospina and Roser, “there are around 265 million working children in the

world—almost 17 percent of the worldwide child population” (Ortiz-Ospina and Roser). Most

of those child laborers are in third-world countries because the children have to help make a

living for them and their families. Some of those countries include: Somalia, Nigeria, Ethiopia,

Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and

Pakistan (Nag 2016). How long children work can affect how much education they are receiving.

Many children start off working at a very young age. Most child laborers start working at

the age of five. Five is the age children are supposed to start school. The common age bracket for

child laborers is 5-14 years old (Ortiz-Ospina and Roser). Many children work long hours, which

leaves little to no school time. According to Ortiz-Ospina and Roser, depending on what country,

some children work, “20-45 hours, suggesting—as one would naturally expect—that it is most

difficult for a child to attend school when approaching full-time work” (Ortiz-Ospina and Roser).

For the children who work, they only reach to a certain level in school before they are pulled out

completely and work full time. The website, compassion.com states that child laborers leave

school at age 15, or even sooner to work (“Quick Facts About Child Labor”). In addition to

working long hours, children are working in unsafe environments.

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Children are known to work in fields, factories, mines, etc. Many sources reveal that

working in bad conditions can affect their health. The Humans Rights Watch states that children

working on tobacco farms are exposed to nicotine and pesticides that have toxins in them which

can make the children sick; also, children who work underground in the coal mines are exposed

to mercury that is toxic which could cause brain damage (“Child Labor”). Other sources reveal

children are exposed to many other hazardous chemicals. TheWorldCounts indicates that child

laborers have, “exposure to radiation in nuclear power plants, inhaling of solvents and glues in

the leather industry, lead poisoning in the glassworks industry, mercury poisoning in the mining

industry” (“Child Labor Working Conditions” 2014). Not only does the working conditions

affect the children’s physical health, but also their mental health. Child laborers also experience

isolation and depression because they are on the fields working by their selves. They also

experience social developmental issues because they do not interact with other children.

(International Labor Rights Forum 2011). How the children work or get their jobs are also in

unhealthy ways. Some children often work in fear from threats of violence and sexual

exploitation (“Children Pay High Price for Cheap Labour”). The poor working conditions the

children work in can possibly be lethal. The World Counts stated that according to the

International Labour Organization, 22,000 children die at work or from the conditions each year

(“Child Labor Working Conditions” 2014). If children are working like this, then why do

companies use child laborers?

Many companies claim they are unaware they have children working for them.

Companies feel they have bigger issues than worrying whether or not children are working for

them. According to Zane, Irwin and Walker-Reczek, “they’re not actively investigating their

supply chains to seek out this information” (Zane, Irwin & Walker-Reczek 2016). Many

clothing, chocolate, and tech companies use child laborers. According to Lamarque findings,
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those companies include: Forever 21, Victoria’s Secret, Gap, H&M, Walmart, Nestle, Hershey’s,

Apple, Philip Morris and Disney. (Lamarque 2016). On the other hand, many companies are

aware they use products that are made by children. They use these products because they are

cheap.

Children are used as child laborers around the world. Child labor is popular especially in

third-world countries. Children are working long hours which deprive them from going to school

and work in poor working conditions which could affect their health. Child labor is a problem in

developing countries however, children who work do it to support their families and make a

living.
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References

Child Labor. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2019, from https://www.hrw.org/topic/childrens-

rights/child-labor

Children Pay High Price for Cheap Labour. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2019, from https://

www.unicef.org/pon95/chil0016.html

Child Labor Working Conditions. (2014, June 16). Retrieved January 22, 2019, from http://

www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Child-Labor-Working-Conditions

ILO Conventions and Recommendations on child labour (IPEC). (n.d.). Retrieved January 22,

2019, from http://www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/ILOconventionsonchildlabour/lang--en/

index.htm

International Labor Rights Forum. (2011, September 26). Retrieved January 22, 2019, from

https://laborrights.org/blog/201109/developmental-effects-child-labor

Lamarque, H. (2016, October 10). 10 Companies That Still Use Child Labor. Retrieved January

22, 2019, from https://www.careeraddict.com/10-companies-that-still-use-child-labor

Nag, O. S. (2016, May 10). Worst Countries For Child Labor. Retrieved January 22, 2019, from

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/worst-countries-for-child-labor.html

Ortiz-Ospina, E., & Roser, M. (n.d.). Child Labor. Retrieved January 22, 2019, from https://

ourworldindata.org/child-labor

Quick Facts About Child Labor. (n.d.). Retrieved January 22, 2019, from https://

www.compassion.com/poverty/child-labor-quick-facts.htm

Zane, D., Irwin, J., & Walker-Reczek, R. (2016, January 28). Why Companies Are Blind to

Child Labor. Retrieved January 22, 2019, from https://hbr.org/2016/01/why-companies-are-

blind-to-child-labor