Child Labor in India: A Worldwide Epidemic
Picture life when you were seven years old. Most of us were probably living an easy life, going to elementary school everyday, with not a single care in the world. Now imagine working long, non-stop 12-hour days in factories that were unsafe, and causing you to be sick and even killing some of your best friends. Imagine making less than a dollar a day and possibly never seeing your family again. For most of us in the United States and other Western Worlds today, this is a far cry from reality. But for more than 280 million children living around the world, this is what they are faced with every single day. They ultimately have no other choice.
Child labor is defined by the International Labor Organization as any work done by children that is dangerous, keeps them from getting an education, and is harmful to their health and development (“India: The big picture.” International Labor Organization.) According to the International Labor Organization, India is home to the largest number of child laborers in the world. It has become a widespread, crucial crisis that affects children throughout India everyday. Children younger than 14 years old are forced everyday to work in firework, glassblowing, and carpet-making factories, and even diamond mines throughout India that are putting them in increased danger. (“Child Slave Labor”, UNICEF)
According to the Government of India, there are 20 million children laborers, but more accurate organizations such as the International Labor Organization and Census put the number of child laborers in India at, at least 44 million, if not higher (Baroda: Operations Research Group, 2004). It has become increasingly difficult to estimate exactly how many children are actually working, because most work without pay, helping their parents, or are working for employers who do not report it to the census or the government and get away with it. Most locals believe child labor is necessary in order to overcome the widespread poverty that is rampant throughout region.
According to a World Bank report in 2005, 41% of India falls below the international poverty line of US $1.25 a day (“New Global Poverty Estimates—What it means for India”. World Bank.) After adults refuse to work for these substantiality low wages, factories then turn to children to work for these extremely low wages. Many of these children have no choice, as their families depend on every penny they make to help their family. There are high levels of extreme poverty throughout India. Every single state that reported information in India from 1998 to 2008 had grown more than 10% in annualized poverty rates (“Poverty rates continues to grow” Census Report, 2008). Most states in India during this time period grew more than 20% in poverty rates. Madhya Pradesh’s poverty rates grew more than 30% over a 10-year period (“A special report on India: Ruled by Lakshmi” The Economist.”) These high poverty rates force the children to work under dangerous, unsanitary conditions. Business continue investing in countries such as India because their overall expenses can be much lower when expanding its child workforce. This means higher profits, which is ultimately the goal of businesses.
The dire conditions in the factories that the children are enduring are desperate and dangerous. Many of these children work long, hot, 12 plus hour days, with possibly one short break for a quick bite of food, if lucky. Many are ill nourished and are fed the least amount of staples possible to save money. This creates a major health epidemic throughout India.
The major health impacts that affect these child laborers in India are widespread and visible in the rapid skeletal growth, the development of organs and tissues, higher chemical absorption rates, lower heat tolerance and the greater need for food and rest. (“Child Labour and Health: Evidence and Research Issues.” Innocenti Research Centre, 2002.) Although working conditions that are usually safe and healthy for adults may not be safe and healthy for children, because of their drastic physical differences. These labor-intensive jobs usually in agriculture, mining, and construction are very risky and training and supervision is insufficient. According to the International Labor Organization in a survey of 26 countries, “one quarter of economically active children suffer injuries or illnesses while working.” Children working in agriculture fields have an even higher risk of health problems and injuries because of the increased exposure to pesticides, the tools used, the lack of clean water, and the less restrictive standards seen in the industrial fields. (“Child Labour and Health: Evidence and Research Issues.” Innocenti Research Centre, 2002.)
Another major theme that is connected to child labor throughout India is the economic impact that these children workers have on India as a whole. Many believe that the diamond industry is benefiting the most from child labor. The International Labor Organization published a report in 2007 that claimed “Child labor is highly prevalent in the Indian diamond industry, as child laborers constitute nearly 3% of the total workforce and the percentage of child laborers is as high as 25% in the diamond industry of Surat.” Having child laborers working in the diamond industry has helped prosper and build the diamond industry throughout the world. Most throughout India believe the economic impacts of the diamond industry are only being felt by the very wealthy. “The majority of the world’s diamonds are cut and polished while workers are often paid only a fraction of 1% of the value of the stones they cut” (“Child Labour Crisis in the Diamond Industry,” BBC News, 2004). The people doing all the work are not seeing any benefit.
In a recent research study by the India Gandhi Institute of Development Research it was shown that “widespread economic growth in Western India was associated with an increase in the number of child workers over the last 15 years.” It went on to describe the low paying hazardous work and the lack of education the children receive because of their work. The work that these children are doing are making it able for companies to go into these areas and pay the children next to nothing for hard work, allowing the companies to prosper and expand, at the cost of the workers. Nothing ever goes back to India as a whole or the workers, only in the pockets of those who run these big businesses.
Many of the major companies that come to India to benefit for child labor such as The Gap, often have to fight with subcontractors and monitor their actions closely. It is up to the company as a whole whether or not they are going to do anything to stop child labor where their products are coming from. According to CNN.com, “In 2006, Gap Inc. ceased business with 23 factories due to code violations. We have 90 people located around the world whose job is to ensure compliance with our Code of Vendor Conduct.” Many of the larger companies, such as the Gap, take steps to prevent their goods from being produced by child labor, but it many cases it cannot be stopped and the companies are unaware of what is going on until they actually go and see first hand what is going on. Larger companies throughout the world need to take some of the preventative stops that Gap is taking to help combat this epidemic.
In 1979, the Indian Government formed the Gurupadswamy Committee to find about child labor and means to tackle it. The Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act was enacted in 1986 and a National Policy on Child Labor was formed in 1987 to focus on rehabilitating children working in hazardous occupations. (Initiatives towards Elimination of Child Labor—Action Plan and Present Strategy,” Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.) The ministry of Labour and Employment had implemented around 100 industry-specific National Child Labour Projects to rehabilitate the child workers since 1988 (“National Legislation and Policies Against Child Labour in India,” International Labor Organization.) Although every piece of legislation that is passed is a step in the right direction, these child labor laws are rarely enforced because punishment is minimal, if any at all. It is up to the world to put an end to this dire situation in India by being informed and spreading consumer awareness. By changing the structure of the workforce entirely and hiring the large number of currently unemployed adults in greatly improved work conditions is only the first step in this lengthy process. New labor standards and wages must be put in place and medical examinations and minimum nutrition requirements must first be established in India. Establishing schools and eliminating the widespread illiteracy that overwhelms the country would work to protect large-scale structural changes. However, these changes cannot be accomplished right away by any means. Pressure from the international community, especially the United States Government and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, is absolutely necessary to bring about any change in India.
I believe that it is essential for the U.S. Congress, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Obama administration to pay more attention to the exploitation of children in India as well as other areas in South and Southeast Asia. Currently according to the German Government, Germany has instigated a pilot program that places a stamp on all imported carpets that are child labor free, thus urging consumers to buy these products. Because of the high price range of these carpets, similar programs can and should be given serious consideration in the United States.
Child labor is a global problem. If child labor is to be eliminated, the governments and agencies and those responsible for enforcement need to start doing their jobs affectively. The most important thing is to increase awareness and keep discussing ways and means to fix this problem for good. We have to decide whether we are going to take up the problem head-on and fight it any way we can, or simply leave it to the Indian government to fix this problem.
A simple thing that we can do to make an impact is to boycott companies who have acknowledged using child labor when producing their products. Do a little research and find out where your products are coming from and who is actually making them. There are many organizations such as; the International Labor Organization, International Labor Rights Forum and UNICEF that can help you gather information and give you resources to make a difference.
Changing the structure of the workforce, improving work conditions, and improving the low labor standards and wages are only the beginning to helping India. With the help of citizens in the United States and other western worlds we can actually make a difference in the lives of many across India and the world and eventually help them prosper into the lives they deserve. Understanding, being informed, and spreading the word about child labor is a good way to start!
