Child Labour or Child Labor case. Also refers to a case called the Fifth Column. The first part is about issues of child labour and what Canadian Companies should do about this issue.

Essay by kandiaisaUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, November 2002

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Overview

As defined, Child labour is work that is both exploitative and hazardous. This includes any work that jeopardizes a child's physical, mental, educational or social development. (Save the Children, [Online])

Child labour is a global concern, affecting anyone who is a consumer. Developing and developed countries alike contribute to the existence of child labour, resulting in underage youth being employed in unhealthy environments, working long hours and being paid extremely low wages. This, leads to little to no time for any type of education, triggering literacy problems and any possibilities for advancement in this job or any other, resulting a cyclical poverty pattern for the families involved.

1. RESEARCH AND DISCUSS THE SUBJECT OF CHILD LABOUR

What is the issue of child labour all about?

The main issue (s) of child labour are the working conditions and lack of time for proper education. The working conditions can be anything from long hours, like 12-18 hour workdays, often without overtime pay; to verbal, physical and sometimes sexual abuse; low wages and unhealthy conditions (Child Labour and the Rights of Youth, 2000).

The working conditions lead to hazardous conditions such as those stated at the West African cocoa industry. A survey, found more than 284,000 children are working in hazardous conditions (CTV August 01/02). These children would be exposed to pesticides and insecticides without proper equipment such as rubber boots and masks. It was also reported that these children had open wounds and bleeding shoulders from carrying 60-70 kilo bags of cocoa beans. Their living accommodations had no running water and food was limited.

The national and international media reported low wages, as low as six cents an hour for Pakistani sweatshops making Nike soccer balls. It's true that some of these teenagers-12 and 13-year-olds are working illegally. But others -...