Child Labour: Responses from Different Industries in the Developing World Essay

In this piece of work it will be asserted that child labour in developing countries is a contentious and challenging topic. Child labour issues are highlighted in context with two different industries. On one side, Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) detect the role of parents in pushing their children to work, in order to increase family productivity in a brick kiln industry in India and on the other side, Winstanley et al. 2002) observe a subtle involvement of a sports footwear manufacturing industry in Vietnam dealing with child labour issues and thwarting them. Winstanley et al. in their study (2002 p. 214) refer to the work of King and Marcus (2000), according to whom, child labour incorporates elements of exploitative and hazardous work that is harmful to children because it prevents them from getting an education, damages their health, subjects them to physical, sexual or emotional abuse or exploits them in other ways. This subjective belief has been recognised by the study conducted by Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) in which they argue about the parental perception regarding their children working with them, providing an extra incentive in their household remuneration and preventing the household from falling into bondage. Moulding bricks in hazardous conditions in a brick kiln industry, children are forced to work for long hours making them devoid of elementary education and also, severely affecting their mental and physical health. Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) emphasise in their study, that, child labour cannot be argued as a substitute for adult labour because the output generated by the latter one is much higher than the former one. Extending beyond organisational, national and cultural boundaries it is becoming extremely difficult to regulate human rights and child labour issues in the developing world. Winstanley et al. (2002) question whether national government and nation states are responsible for weak regulation of human rights at work place? Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) in their study perceive that employers hire brokers who play an important role in the recruitment of labours in the brick kiln industry in India. A peculiar trend of recruitment is observed by Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) in which brokers recruit only couple of adult composed of a man and his wife, or two men, rarely two women. A man alone is never recruited. Considering all these conditions, parents usually take their children with them at work, and children eventually end up working with their parents. The extra money pays off their debts and increases their bargaining power in the market. So, child labour becomes a mean to bargain higher amount of advance. The recruitment policy mentioned in this case can be argued to be biased. Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) quotes ‘illiteracy’ among people and especially, in case of parents, as one of the major factors bloating this social evil. No measures have been taken in such artisan industries to eliminate child labour, but, in fact, a general perception has been designed according to which, child labour is clearly complementary to adult labour. On the contrary, Winstanley et al. (2002) in their study of a sports footwear manufacturing company called Adidas-Salomon observe an active involvement of the company in averting human rights and child labour issues by adopting a mixed approach of disengagement and engagement strategy. As observed by Winstanley et al. (2002), the company opted more of disengagement approach but not in terms of disengaging factories and countries, but child labour, by establishing Department of Social and  Environmental Affairs with a mission of enhancing its brand by promoting socially responsible, safe and environmentally sustainable practices for the company and its business partners. Going beyond merely strict regulation and monitoring, Adidas tried counter-attacking the child labour problem by formulating a Code of Conduct known as ‘Standards of Engagement’ (SOE) under which educational programmes for underage workers (below 14 years) were organised in the factory itself whilst con tinuing to pay them basic wage and providing them day meal (Winstanley et al. , 2002). Taking into account what Winstanley et al. (2002) perceived from their study, a question can be raised that, if companies would provide such a productive atmosphere to underage workers then many parents will push their children to work in factories, thereby, boosting child labour. On the other hand, Basu and Van (1998) suggest that policy implications of banning child labour in domestic sector as well as in home- based enterprise like the brick kiln industry, which is indeed a market oriented sector, will prove to be inefficient (in Bhukuth and Ballet, 2006 p. 5). If the policies are regulated and child labour is banned in the industry, a deep negative impact will be observed on the deprived strata of society who believe that child labour can prevent their family from falling into a dynamic process of debt bondage. Winstanley et al. (2002) and Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) agree on the point that NGOs can play a drivers role in solving the problem of bondage and child labour by providing elementary education to children and non-formal education to parents, so that they can monitor their accounts and prevent any chances of cheating while clearing debts. Winstanley et al. (2002) support this notion by mentioning the intensive role played by a US-based NGO hired by Adidas and the locals with directed aims and objectives to eliminate child labour. Winstanley et al. (2002) also summarise the impact of media which has spawned a plethora of information that has divulged the concealed areas in this milieu. Conclusively, Bhukuth and Ballet (2006) and Winstanley et al. (2002) have endeavoured to investigate the industrial ethics in context with child labour. The role of NGOs along with a significant support from the locals in solving the problem of child labour is well supported here. There are certain areas which remain unexplored like the after effects of child labour on a child, reason for inactive support from the central or state government in jettisoning child labour etc. I strongly agree with Winstanley et al. (2002) vis-a-vis media acquiring the centre stage in creating awareness amongst people and drawing a strong reaction from society, consumers and producers to tackle the bottom line of exploitation.