Child labour in the fast fashion industry is a global concern.

Children in developing
countries are hired by employers at all stages of the fashion supply chain to meet
consumers’ demand and remain competitive, as they are vulnerable and a source of
cheap labour (Osmen, 2014; Moulds, n.d.). These children are deprived of education
and subjected to long working hours and low wages, with serious health risks and
harm to their development (Radfar et al., 2018).

Autonomy is an ethical consideration that arises when children are put to work due to
poverty to help their families make ends meet, despite their inability to comprehend
and consent to labour (Radfar et. al, 2018). Here, a moral dilemma is faced. If child
labourers stopped working, poor families would lose a supplemental financial
contribution. However, they would be subjected to further harm if they were to
continue working.

Child labour should be abolished. With regards to child labour, doing good means to
protect vulnerable individuals (i.e. children) instead of exploiting them based on their
weaknesses. With many societal changes such as globalisation having negative
impacts on children, it is vital for their healthy development as it determines the
future wellbeing of society (UNICEF, n.d.)

1. Child labourers are used as tools for the personal benefits of other parties, at the
expense of exposing these children to harm. Kant’s second formulation, the Principle
of Humanity, states that people should not be treated “as merely means to others’
ends” (Ang & Wong, 2022).

At a young age, children do not possess the autonomy and decision-making ability to
comprehend and assent to labour (Kipnis, 2003). Child labourers are thus treated as
mere means as employers can easily manipulate them into working, only to be
subjected to long hours with demanding deadlines, hazardous working conditions
and low wages (European Commission, 2021). Furthermore, children lack the ability
to defend themselves against mistreatments as they view employers to be authority
figures they must obey, making children be seen as obedient workers (Radfar et al,
2018; Gheaus, 2017). This affects the children’s moral worth as their decisions were
not made on the basis of rational wills. Similarly, when a family coerces their child to
labourers, they are treated as means for financial stability.

2. Child labour diminishes overall happiness in the long run for the children involved,
their families and society. According to Mill’s rule-utilitarianism, we should follow
rules that maximises utility for the majority most of the time which includes not
ignoring others’ suffering (Ang & Wong, 2022).

Ignoring the sufferings of child labourers may bring happiness for the society and
consumers as they are able to purchase affordable trendy clothes. However,
individuals’ happiness would diminish over time as should they be subjected to
forced labour one day, they know that others will ignore their sufferings as well.

Accepting the rule that child labour should be abolished produces the most
wellbeing. Although child labourers gain the pleasure of being able to earn and
support their family, they are working at the expense of their education. This
deprives them of their intellectual and mental development, acquisition of new skills
for adult life and eventually, higher long-term earnings for the family (Rahman &
Khanam, 2012). These consequences from child labour affirms that the outputs
enjoyed by the children involved and their families through child labour is a lower
pleasure. If children are free from child labour, they can thrive better as they are not
restricted from education. A higher quality of pleasure can then be gained.

However, there are constraints to these theories. When determining what is right or
wrong, deontology makes no allowance for exceptions of circumstances and
disregards the possible implications of our actions (Ang & Wong, 2022). In this case
study, deontology limits child labour to be morally wrong regardless of the
circumstances of the child labourer and their family. If child labour is morally wrong,
many children will be jobless and poor families will be even poorer especially if the
child is the sole breadwinner. These children may eventually turn to illegal activities
to survive, which will produce worse consequences (Hindman & Hindman, 2014).

Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory that disregards the motives behind our

actions and overgeneralizes human nature (Ang & Wong, 2022). If child labour is
morally wrong, no child should be subjected to labour regardless of their intentions of
doing so. Many families rely on the children’s income for mere survival and without it,
harm will be inflicted. Some children simply have the desire to help their family and
an interest to work despite knowing the harms of child labour. While some children
would rather work than attend school due to the fear of failure (Wadgave & Godale,
2013). Would they necessarily gain pleasure if their intentions are unachieved?

(793 words)
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