Christopher Butcher 3rd Block 1/27/12

Principles of Marketing Child Labor

Child labor is work that harms children or keeps them from attending school. Around the world and in the U. S., growing gaps between rich and poor in recent decades have forced millions of young children out of school and into work. The International Labor Organization estimates that 215 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 currently work under conditions that are considered illegal, hazardous, or extremely exploitative. Underage children work at all sorts of jobs around the world, usually because they and their families are extremely poor. Large numbers of children work in commercial agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, mining, and domestic service. Some children work in illicit activities like the drug trade and prostitution or other traumatic activities such as serving as soldiers. We as consumers, business owners, and prominent citizens help contribute to this atrocity because many of our businesses are making products in other countries. Child labor is very common outside of the United States. In fact, an estimated 215 child laborers around the globe: approximately 114 million (53%) are in Asia and the Pacific; 14 million (7%) live in Latin America; and 65 million (30%) live in sub-Saharan Africa. A lot of our own US businesses has been bought or moved to other countries due to the more affordable labor. That is one way we contribute. Another way that is linked to that is us, (as consumers), buying the products from the foreign countries. We buy the products that are made from the child laborers and sometimes we dont even know it! Some laws that have helped combat child labor are U.S. Federal Child Labor Law(s). In the NonAgricultural Employment the minimum age for Non-Hazardous employment is 14 years old *Exceptions include: newspaper delivery, performing in radio, television, movie, or theatrical productions, and work for parents in family business (except manufacturing or hazardous jobs). The minimum age for hazardous employment is 18 years old. The maximum hours of employment for youth under 16-years-old are no work during school hours. Additionally: On school days: 3 hours/day, 18 hours/week maximum. When school is out of session: 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. Labor Day to May 31: work must occur between 7 am-7 pm. June 1-Labor Day: all work must occur between 7 am-9 pm. In the Agricultural Employment the minimum age for Non-Hazardous employment is 10 and 11-yearsold, with parental consent, on farms not covered by minimum wage requirements. 12 and 13-years-old, with parental consent. 14 and 15-years-old, no restrictions on non-hazardous work. The minimum age for Hazardous Employment is 16 years old. The maximum hour of Employment for youth under 16years-old is no working during school hours.