Effects of Child Labor on Children and the Society
Child Labor is considered as one of the most common and forms of human rights violation. It basically refers to the act or process of employing children to do any kinds of work that, in any way, are not related to the natural process of childhood growth and development, and interfere with their ability to play, attend school. Child labor is generally viewed as physically, mentally, emotionally, morally, and socially destructive. The number of employed children between the ages 5-14 boomed during the industrial revolution. That era was characterized by a substantially large population of factories and enterprises.
Governments tend to ignore the passing of legislations and acts that prohibit child labor. Child labor is most prevalent in South Africa, particularly in the mining and agriculture sector.
Children who double as laborers are usually more easily stressed and depressed compared to normal children. The high prevalence rates of reported cases related to family problems are also associated with child labor. It has long been known that the level of educational attainment is perceived by employers as the primary benchmark or in some cases, the sole basis of choosing a candidate for a job, children who were employed earlier than intended and as a result were unable to focus on improving the educational aspect of their portfolio would surely be handicapped by those who were able to follow the natural path of human growth and development laid by society.
Reasons behind the presence of Child Labor
According to the National Child Labor Committee or the NCLC, children are often forcefully employed in gainful occupations. Poverty remains to be the greatest single factor that causes the continuous rise and decline of child labor rates. This has been true for impoverished families. In an effort to increase the net income of the family, parents tend to send their children to factories and employers.
Child Labor Public Education Project
The most useful and efficient weapon that can be used to battle child labor would be education. In 1904, an aggressive international campaign against child labor has been initiated in the U.S. Months to years after, different countries followed. Basically, the goal of the project is to educate the public about the harmful effects of child labor on children and the society as a whole.
Many employers are still able to recruit child laborers in the U.S. but that will surely change in 1916. A new federal law will be promulgated and sanctions against violations of the child labor act will be raised. As a result, factories, especially the ones that are known to employ child workers will be forced to move to states which had lax policies against child labor. However, the effects of the child labor public education project kicked in and that would most likely mark the dark ages for employers who intentionally recruit child laborers.
