Child Labour

Child Labour

Child labour is one of the topic that presents strong emotions, beliefs

and opinions. Most people are opposed to the involvement of children in labour

force activities when they are at an age when other activities, such as

education and play, should be the central role in development. However, child

labour represents an extremely difficult and complex issue which often extends

beyond emotions, beliefs and opinions. Much of this has to do with the

understanding that a wide variety of factors, such as economic, cultural, social,

political and legal concerns, are part of any child labour problems as well as

the solution to these problems. With this in mind, the purpose of this paper

will be to discuss the issue of child labour on a national and an international

scale. This will not only include an evaluation of it prominence and any

problems that are associated with the use of child labour, but also an

examination of the efforts that are being made to discourage national

and

foreign markets who employ children.

In many respects, the issue of child labour on a national scale, at

least from a Canadian perspective, is one that is quite limited. Much of this

has to do with the fact that a significant amount of powerful legislation and

enforcement of this legislation is available. For example, the Ontario

Employment Standards Act states that individuals under the age of 18 must be

paid a minimum of $6.40 per hour1. Furthermore, through the Ontario Occupational

Health and Safety Act, regulations have been created which allow for a minimum

age of 16 for logging activities, 15 for factory activities other than logging,

and 14 for activities other than factory work2.

Unfortunately, an examination of child labour on an international scale

reveals the extent to which this situation exists, as well as the degree to

which problems can arise. "A systematic estimate, undertaken in 1985, calculated

around 31 million street children worldwide, of whom 71 percent were...