Child Labour: Historical Context, Legislation, and Global Impact

This research paper provides a comprehensive overview of child labour, examining its historical context, legislative efforts, and global impact. The paper begins by defining child labour and tracing its evolution, particularly in Canada, highlighting the shift in attitudes and the introduction of labour legislation. It then delves into the role of international organizations like the ILO in setting standards and addressing child labour. The paper also explores the various forms of child labour, including slavery, child trafficking, and debt bondage, providing statistical data and examples from different regions. It emphasizes the need for effective implementation of laws and strategies to reduce child labour, ultimately advocating for the protection and well-being of children worldwide. The essay utilizes various sources, including governmental and organizational reports, to support its arguments.

Child Labour
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Child labour 1
Child labour
The research paper will throw light on child labour which is one of the leading problems across
the world. Child labour is defined as the regular employment of a child including both girls and
boys under the age of 15 or 16. Since the 18th century, attitudes towards the child labour have
altered dramatically. In the 20th century, most provinces had enacted labour legislation which
restricts the employment of the children with the age group of 15 or 16.i Still, this is found that
most of the children are still working in the present century. The thesis statement of the essay: In
this essay, the research related to the child labour is conducted. The main points that are covered
in the essay include the history related to the child labour which shows the involvement of a
male child in the job, the legislation introduced by the government are also discussed. In addition
to this, the details related to the different types of child labour that are taking place across the
world are also discussed.
During the 19th and 20th century, most of the Canadian children became the economic liabilities
of their families. In simple words, the children between the age group of 15-16 years have taken
the responsibilities of their family members. This was the major reason due to which the number
of the child labour increased not only in Canada but across the world. The restriction related to
the attendance in the school made the children attend the school on the compulsory basis. By the
year 1911, more than 40% of Canadian children between the age of 5 to 9 and 50% of children
with the age group of 10 to 19 years were in school. Though, the number of the boys attending
the school dropped from 68% to 40% by the year 1961. This evident that in the early century
boys used to work for the survival of their families. ii

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In the current era, children working apart from the school hours are allowed but for the children
with the age group of 16 or more. Similarly, in Canada the children below the age of 16 years are
restricted for the employment and school attendance is compulsory for them.iii This has been
found in the research that across the world, the government is forming certain legislation to
reduce the child labour. The legislation which is introduced by the government of the different
countries are related to the minimum age, a number of working hours per day and time of the day
which vary according to the provinces and territories. Along with this, the legislation also exists
that protect the minors working into the dangerous or hazardous conditions which include
mining industry, manufacturing, construction and forestry with the places where the liquor is
sold.iv The existing of law is not bringing the changes until and unless these laws will be
implemented by the people in the countries.
Considering the point of view of International labour organisation (ILO) Conventions No. 138
and No. 182 distinguish between the unacceptable child labour that is must eliminate and child
work that may contribute to the healthy development of children. According to the research, this
is found that light work will be allowed for the children with the age group of 12 years and older
and non-hazardous work will be allowed for children with 15 years and older.v All these
legislations are formed by the ILO with the motive to reduce the number of children working
with the age of below 15. All these legislations are formed by the ILO with the motive to
improve the living standard of children and to offer them a better life which includes their
willingness.
The recent World vision report with the title Canada’s labour problem reiterated the issue with
different types of issues that are related to the forced labour. The report clearly mentions that 85
million children that are nearly triple of the total population of the country suffer from hazardous

Child labour 3
and exploitative labour. This is the fact that people of the country are not able to accept the fact
that the children’s are working against their will as they are trafficked or forced to work against
the debt that is taken by them. This has been observed in the research that the people of the
country are also making the purchased of products which are made by the children as this good
include everything from food to clothing and extended to electronics. Many companies in the
country are ill-prepared to acknowledge the fact of the child labour and forced labour. This
seems that the formulation of the regulation is not enough as it is essential to bring some strict
strategies that contribute to the implementation of the regulations. This is the fact that the
effective implementation of the laws and legislation related to the child labour will bring the
improvement in the conditions across the world as the number of children engaged in the world
will reduce.
According to the research, this is found that child labour includes different forms some of which
include slavery, child trafficking, debt bondage, serfdom and many others. In the rural areas
worldwide, this has been found that most of the children are involved in slavery in which one
person is owned by and made work for another person without saying any word.vi The research
reflects that approx. 45.8 million people are in some form of slavery in 167 countries. According
to the wall free foundation, India rank on top with 18.4 million salves compared to China with
3.4 million and Pakistan to 2.1 million.vii This clearly states that India includes most of the salves
due which the families of the country face the slavery which includes children with the age of
below 15.
In addition, in most of the poor countries, it has been found that child trafficking is taking place.
This trafficking includes illegal trading for labour or sexual exploitation. The evident of the same
is found by the ILO who estimated that 24.9 million men, women and children are victims of

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trafficking. According to the data, there are 20% are girls who are the victims of child
trafficking.viii In addition to this, approx. 2 million children are exposed to prostitution in the
global commercial sex trade (UNICEF).ix This data clarify that most of the child girl face the
issues of sex trading which needs strict actions from the government.
In addition to this, the Debt bondage is increasing due to which the children have to suffer a lot.
In debt bondage, the child works in exchange to pay off the loan taken by their family members.
According to the analysis, this is found that approx. 65.8% of the slaves have their roots in the
regions of Asia Pacific. This is found that most of the debt bondage is found in India due to
which the child needs to work on different areas so that they can pay off the loan taken by their
families.
In the end, it can be stated that child labour is increasing across the world due to which the
children are not able to live their life according to their willingness. Moreover, they have to work
for their families which exploit their life. This paper includes the history of the Child labour with
the reference of Canada which shows that child labour is increasing across the world. The
legislation is formed by the government so that they can reduce the child labour which is
discussed and it states that people with the age of below 15 or 16 should not work. Moreover, in
the current era, there is still the presence of child labour which is clear from the example of
Canada. Further, there is discussion related to the different forms of the child labour which
include child slavery, child trafficking and Debt bondage.

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Bibliography

i Barman J, Child Labour [Online].The Canadian Encyclopedia. 2018 [Cited 6 Oct. 2018] Available from
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/child-labour
ii Nogler L, Pertile M. Child labour in a globalized world: a legal analysis of ILO action. Routledge; 2016 Apr 15.
iii The government of Canada. Child labour. [Online]. Government of Canada. 2018 [Cited 6 Oct. 2018] Available from:
http://international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/human_rights-droits_homme/
child_labour-travail_enfants.aspx?lang=eng
iv Unicef. Child Labour. [Online] Unicef. 2018 [Cited 6 Oct. 2018] Available from: http://unicef.in/Whatwedo/21/Child-
Labour
v Fontana LB, Grugel J. To eradicate or to legalize? Child labour debates and ILO convention 182 in Bolivia. Global
Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations. 2015 Jan;21(1):61-78.
vi International Labour Organization. The worst forms of child labour. [Online]. International Labour Organization [Cited 6
Oct. 2018] Available from: https://www.ilo.org/ipec/Campaignandadvocacy/Youthinaction/C182-Youth-orientated/
worstforms/lang--en/index.htm
vii McCarthy N. Infographic: Modern Slavery Is A Brutal Reality Worldwide. [online] Statista Infographics. 2018 [Cited 6
Oct. 2018] Available from: https://www.statista.com/chart/4937/modern-slavery-is-a-brutal-reality-worldwide/
viii Brinlee M. 13 Sex Trafficking Statistics That Put The Worldwide Problem Into Perspective. [Online] Bustle. 2018 [Cited
6 Oct. 2018] Available from: https://www.bustle.com/p/13-sex-trafficking-statistics-that-put-the-worldwide-problem-into-
perspective-9930150
ix Ark of Hope for Children. Child trafficking Statistics. [Online] Ark of Hope for Children. 2017 [Cited 6 Oct. 2018]
Available from: https://arkofhopeforchildren.org/child-trafficking/child-trafficking-statistics