Child Labour
Name: Li Jiayu
Is it acceptable for companies to employ child labour/very low wage labour?
Answer
Shell International Limited(SI) (2000) mentions that child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour, it is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in a lot of countries. Due to the detrimental consequence for the children who are engaged in the excessive and dangerous levels of work, one of the most disastrous effects reflects in their physical health.
Physical problems can arise from working in often cramped and unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Whilst impaired growth is suffered by many child labourers, additional, more specific problems may also be faced depending on the work carried out. Respiratory diseases, for example, are common where the work place is filled with particles, as in the rug making or metal polishing trades. Severe cuts, even loss of limb, may be suffered from using knives, machetes or unguarded cutting equipment. Sight can be irreparably damaged by spending years working in poorly lit conditions.
(SI, 2000, page 8-9)
It is clear that SI has deeply reported the influences and outcomes about child labour’s corporal health. Nevertheless, according to Hindman (2009), it is also can be argued that under this circumstance by employing child labour, not only devastating children’s bodies, but also causing long-term emotional and psychological problems of child labour actually. It is common view that the mental developments of children are still growing in process, therefore the impacts from illegal employment will absolutely and fatally destroy children’s inner souls. In other words, the numbness and unrest of child labours’ psychologies are even more destructive than any other aspect.
Concern about the impact of domestic work on children has tended to focus more on physical health than psychological well-being. However, when it comes to child domestic labor,
Is it acceptable for companies to employ child labour/very low wage labour?
Answer
Shell International Limited(SI) (2000) mentions that child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour, it is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in a lot of countries. Due to the detrimental consequence for the children who are engaged in the excessive and dangerous levels of work, one of the most disastrous effects reflects in their physical health.
Physical problems can arise from working in often cramped and unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Whilst impaired growth is suffered by many child labourers, additional, more specific problems may also be faced depending on the work carried out. Respiratory diseases, for example, are common where the work place is filled with particles, as in the rug making or metal polishing trades. Severe cuts, even loss of limb, may be suffered from using knives, machetes or unguarded cutting equipment. Sight can be irreparably damaged by spending years working in poorly lit conditions.
(SI, 2000, page 8-9)
It is clear that SI has deeply reported the influences and outcomes about child labour’s corporal health. Nevertheless, according to Hindman (2009), it is also can be argued that under this circumstance by employing child labour, not only devastating children’s bodies, but also causing long-term emotional and psychological problems of child labour actually. It is common view that the mental developments of children are still growing in process, therefore the impacts from illegal employment will absolutely and fatally destroy children’s inner souls. In other words, the numbness and unrest of child labours’ psychologies are even more destructive than any other aspect.
Concern about the impact of domestic work on children has tended to focus more on physical health than psychological well-being. However, when it comes to child domestic labor,
References: Hindman, H.D. (2009) The world of child labor: an historical and regional survey, New York: Armonk. Shell International Limited (2000) Business and Child Labor: a management primer, Publicity Services, [online] Available at: <http://www.shell.com/static/envirosoc-en/downloads/management_primers/business_and_child_labour_primer.pdf> [Accessed 25 October 2012].