International Trade and Child Labor

Should child labor be eliminated? An HRD perspective

“…Guha-Khasnobis et al (1999) suggested imposing sanctions to eliminate child labor. In developing countries, child labor is related more to poverty and uncontrolled population growth than to trade issues (Basu & Van, 1999;Hasnat, 1995). Trade does influence child labor but is not the cause.…”

“…Child labor is found in various economic activities, such as family-based agriculture, domestic service, street vending, small-scale manufacturing, and prostitution (GuhaKhasnobis, Mehta, & Agarwal, 1999;Hasnat, 1995). In developing countries, trade did not create child labor but did promote its use (Basu, 1999;Hasnat, 1995).…”

“…Given that family and not the individual is the unit of social activity, a child' s work in this case is seen as a process of socialization and apprenticeship (Hasnat, 1995). Clay and Stephens (1996) provided an American perspective on child labor.…”

“…Children moved from family-based production to factory systems where they worked in hazardous environments without family supervision (Hasnat, 1995). In 1866, the International Workers' Congress called for an international campaign against child labor, though the motive was suspicious because it was seen to protect union members' jobs and not children.…”

Child Labor Issues in the International Setting

“…As early as 1917, the American Federation of Labor was working on a ban of child labor. 5 In 1920, an ILO convention set the minimum age for employment in industry at 14 years. 6 During the period of 1917 to 1938, minimum wage and child labor laws were struck down by the US Supreme Court and eventually passed during the administration of President Franklin Roosevelt.…”