Should child labor be eliminated? An HRD perspective

Abstract

Child labor, especially in developing countries, has been an increasing target for social reformers. Although there are many suggested solutions for the eradication of child labor, many are simplistic and create more problems than they cure. Suggested reforms are explored and analyzed. Additional recommendations, especially from a human resource development perspective, are explored.

Vi. Girls' and Boys' Labor and Household Chores in Low‐ and Middle‐income Countries

“…One global strategy has been to set a minimum age for labor, another to ban child labor altogether (ILO, 1973, 1999). These strategies will likely fail to eradicate child labor and improve living conditions for children (Budhwani, Wee, & McLean, 2004; Levine, 2011; Morrow, 2010) because a host of factors promotes or maintains child labor, including (but not limited to) the unavailability or prohibitive costs of quality schooling, gender-based cultural norms, the unavailability of alternative labor sources, and individual family needs. Another more promising global strategy for reducing child labor is to improve access to schooling.…”

Is child labor a barrier to school enrollment in low- and middle-income countries?

“…Some governmental and non-governmental organizations have focused on global legislation, like setting a minimum age for child labor or banning child labor altogether. These strategies will likely fail to eradicate child labor and improve living conditions for children (Budhwani, Wee, & McLean, 2004; Morrow, 2010) because a host of factors promotes or maintains child labor, including (but not limited to) the unavailability or prohibitive costs of quality schooling, gender-based cultural norms, the unavailability of alternative labor sources, and individual family needs. For example, there is some evidence that a national ban on child labor only serves to push children into lower-paying and less regulated jobs, which encourages parents to send children into labor more (Bharaswaj, Lakdawala, & Li, 2013; Edmonds, 2003).…”

Leadership decision-making: A behavioral reasoning theory analysis

“…Likewise, norms were controlled for, given their potential role in leadership decision-making, such as when leaders respond to the norms of their governing bodies, boards, or trustees (Harrisson et al, 2001). Norms are especially relevant when questions about moral or ethical decisions are addressed, as would be the case for youth workforce decisions (Budhwani et al, 2004;Kolk & Van Tulder, 2004). Moreover, neo-institutional theorists posit that leaders and executives often act because of their desires "to maintain legitimacy in the face of pressures from their environment" (Spell & Blum, 2005, p. 1126.…”