More than 200 million children are believed to be engaging in child labour across the world, with more than half of them (ages 5-17) doing hazardous or risky work.
For thousands of years, child labour has existed in some form.
However, as our population has expanded, poverty has increased, and economic globalisation has extended, children have become more vulnerable to exploitation, oppression, and abuse. “Poverty is the primary precipitating factor,” the editors of Child Labor: A Global Perspective write, “but education, restrictive social and cultural roles, economic greed, family size, location, and global economics all contribute.”
Child labour is defined as “work that is hazardous to children’s mental, physical, social, or moral well-being, or interferes with their education.” As a result, it is labour that deprives children of their childhood, potential, and dignity.”
Here are some suggestions for ending child labour:
Make an effort to educate oneself.
Use resources like the ones listed here to learn more, then share what you’ve learned with your friends, family, coworkers, and others to enhance your “vote” power.
Retailers, producers, and importers should all be contacted.
Investigate about the sources of their items politely. Tell them you want to buy items that aren’t made using child labour, and offer them ethical products and services to sell instead.
Use the Chocolate List from the Food Empowerment Project to confirm that the chocolate you’re buying was not manufactured using child labour.
Increase the amount of food you grow yourself.
Buy from farmer’s markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and U-Pick farms (first verify their labour policies).
Both your time and your money should be shared.
Give up your daily cappuccino or costly make-up, or eat out a little less, and donate that money toward supporting respectable organisations that assist children escape exploitative work and receive a good education. When you have the opportunity, volunteer your time.
Make contact with lawmakers on a local, regional, and national level.
Ask them to enact legislation to ensure that no items are manufactured with child labour in your city, state, or nation, and to adopt “codes of conduct” that include awareness for humane, sustainable, and fair methods.
Make contact with companies that do business in nations where children are forced to work.
Encourage them to apply pressure on government authorities to take action, as well as businesses that employ child labour to adopt sustainable, fair-trade policies.
Invest with integrity.
If you’re a shareholder, make sure your company supports ethical, sustainable, and just policies that don’t use child labour.
Make contact with government officials.
Write letters to the leaders of nations that allow any kind of child slavery or forced labour, urging them to tighten and enforce their laws, as well as to expand educational possibilities for children and humane, long-term economic prospects for adults.
Others should be educated.
Make presentations to schools, church communities, NGOs, and other organisations to raise awareness about child labour concerns and inspire positive action.
“When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.” – KP
Helping Hands.
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