What You Don't Want to Know About Child Labor
Even though it's hard to find conclusive facts on the frequency of child labor in the developing world, there's no doubt that its commonplace in certain industries and regions. A recent Supply Chain Digest article quotes a column from Forbes noting that "every time you buy an imported handmade carpet, an embroidered pair of jeans, a beaded purse, a decorated box or a soccer ball there's a good chance you're acquiring something fashioned by a child." How do companies miss monitoring for the usage of child labor in their supplier’s facilities?
While some no doubt turn a blind shoulder to the problem, most simply don't know about it -- or avoid asking the questions that might turn up an issue. For example, while a direct supplier might not employ child labor in its primary facilities -- those which are subject to an onsite factory audit on a regular basis -- it very well might employ child labor in smaller plants or even sister companies for specialized stages of the production process. But on a more frequent basis, it's your supplier's suppliers who might be guilty of child labor infractions. And developing a monitoring program that takes into account multiple tiers of supplier practices is the only way to stop this from occurring.
- Jason Busch
While some no doubt turn a blind shoulder to the problem, most simply don't know about it -- or avoid asking the questions that might turn up an issue. For example, while a direct supplier might not employ child labor in its primary facilities -- those which are subject to an onsite factory audit on a regular basis -- it very well might employ child labor in smaller plants or even sister companies for specialized stages of the production process. But on a more frequent basis, it's your supplier's suppliers who might be guilty of child labor infractions. And developing a monitoring program that takes into account multiple tiers of supplier practices is the only way to stop this from occurring.
- Jason Busch
I am going to play a bit of devils advocate here, but only to make a point.
What is child labor? Who is setting the standard? and should we take away chances for 14 year olds to make a living when their family is living on a dollar a day?
This is something that I think everyone in China is definately seeing more of lately, and those I know in Pakistan, Vietnam, and India will all say the same thing.
But what are the real solutions? How can you realistically address this issues when operating in these environments? It is a problem we are all aware of, but what can be done besides blasting the firms who take steps to publicly address the situations that they are having?
I remember when Nike was blasted when a BBC reporter paid two Cambodian girls to say they were underage (they actually weren't). Under pressure, Nike moved their orders to another factory outside of Cambodia and left 700 people out of jobs. how did that benefit anyone?
Many outside of these areas fail to understand the fact that many times, those who are underage are making a real effort to conceal their age (fake id, fake birth certs, etc) so that they can work..... so what are the solutions for that? What do you do when you have a group of people (14,15,or 16) that are willing to go to extreme measures to support their families?
there are a lot of things in play here, and while I think firms need to do everything possible to ensure that their workers are above age, but there also needs to be a real look at what happens when someone at the age of 14 shows up in a sew shop.
Do you simply kick that child out on the street (How does that child really benefit)? Or should firms put together a more proactive approach that will solve a problem?
R
I realize the illegal alien issue doesn't have the same moral idignation as child labor, I'm just suggesting that there is improvement in how everybody handles their labor issues. Of course our problem need not be a labor issue as it could be resolved through legislation.
As to the previous comment, I completely agree with you...the problem is labor instead of education.
In less developed countries without mature tax and municipal structures, fines "on the spot" for violations and "bribes" (as they're labeled by ferners) are actually a much more efficient system than given credit for. Same for child labor. Indeed it's not black or white, except to those that don't play the tape all the way to the end.
What's really awful is the mistreatment of ALL workers - underpayment, mistreatment and, in some cases, slavery. Age actually has less to do with the argument.
But, it sells newspapers.