Ethical Essay: Child Labor in Fiji

This essay examines a case study concerning child labor in Fiji. It critically evaluates the ethical considerations surrounding the employment of underage children, weighing the competing interests of economic necessity and the well-being of children. The essay identifies various stakeholders impacted by the decision, including the children themselves, their families, the company considering hiring them, and the broader community. Different potential decisions are explored, considering the perspectives of Fijians and Australians, highlighting the cultural differences in attitudes towards child labor. The conclusion emphasizes the negative consequences of employing underage children, advocating for alternative solutions that address the root causes of child labor, such as poverty and lack of educational opportunities. The essay supports its arguments with references to relevant sources.

Running head: CHILD LABOUR WORRY
ETHICAL ESSAY
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[Company name]
[Company address]

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Table of Contents
Critical Evaluation of Case..............................................................................................................2
Competing Considerations of Ethics...............................................................................................2
Impact of Decision on Different Stakeholders................................................................................3
Various Stakeholders in the Case....................................................................................................4
Various Possible Decisions..............................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

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Critical Evaluation of Case
In the given case study, it was identified that in Fiji, approximately 3500 people who are in the
age group between 6 years and 17 years dropped their school because of reasons like disinterest
in schools, unable to afford the education, illness or disability, lack of family support, to give
help at home and do the job to earn money for earning a livelihood for their family members. A
lot of these children who drop out of the school with less qualifications are often forced to do the
activities which are harmful to the health, moral, mental and physical wellbeing. After discussing
the issue with the Board of Directors Member John Nakarawa, who was also born in Fiji favored
the concept of giving employment to young children who dropped out of the schools as
according to him it would mean the distinguished concept between the long term welfare for
children and poverty. However, the mentality of Australian people are totally different. The main
concern arises when the age of the new recruits will get low in subsequent years. A big and
significant concern which is plaguing the sector of education in Fiji is regarding the dropouts
from school. Either willingly or unwillingly, these children who leave their school put a black
mark on the society. The major causes behind these children leaving their schools can be because
of financial limitations, pressure from peer group and lack of interest. In all these tough times,
parents usually find it difficult to make available the food for family members and it becomes
almost impossible for them to support and afford the education of children ("Child labour worry
- Fiji Times Online", 2017).
Competing Considerations of Ethics
Child labor is considered as an offensive practice which engages children in to work forcefully
and affects their childhood period in harmful way. Taking work from children is unethical as it
demands the working of the children in a tiring and dangerous jobs and the wages they get is also

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minimum due to less qualification. If we consider the conditions of a family who faces monetary
issues like financial crunch and poverty and if their children are willing and ready to earn the
money for their family, then it can be considered as ethical for a child to work only if he works
in a non-dangerous condition and safe environment. Also it is not possible to live the life equally
for everyone. Many countries and nations where child labor happens are too poor for providing
the things like health care and education etc. While some people consider it as totally unethical
for children to work as the age group from 6 years-17 years must focus to glorify their future as
it is the next generation of the world ("Is child labor ethical?", 2017). They should be well
guided, taught and saved to deliver and offer the moral principles and values and good deeds to
the whole world. Every child must get good atmosphere and environment to pursuit their life
experience. If any of the stakeholder is from Fiji or has undergone any similar experience in the
past, it can make him understand the situation and he may not criticize the employment of young
aged people. But if someone is from Australia itself or any other nation, he may not understand
the ethicality behind child labor and causes of school dropouts because of valid points.
Impact of Decision on Different Stakeholders
If the underage children are started to be recruited in the organization, it can lead to high unpaid
jobs, low productivity, availability of less skilled labor in the organization, and poor reputation
of the company as it will be highlighted as a company who encourages child labor. Australia has
moved to a situation in which almost each second, a job for the youth becomes part time. This
situation can cause serious tension between demand for employer for the flexibility of labor force
and the concerns of the employee regarding the security of job. The desire and aim for more
employment hours is evident as almost 30% workers who are working on part time basis want
increased hours and only 60% and below want employment on full time basis. In the current

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case, it is very much possible that John may give opportunities to people who are underage and
may have not done their schooling complete. It is also possible that they may not possess
sufficient knowledge in the respective domain and it can also lead to lack of productivity and
profitability of the organization. The necessary technical knowledge required to operate the
machines and equipment in the organization may be missing in the employees who have left
their schools in early period and have started working to earn money with half gained
knowledge. The image of the company in the eyes of stakeholders will get diminished and it can
also lead to the lower interest in the products of the company ("How Does Child Labour Effect
Society Young People Essay", 2017). People with lower age group do not have much health,
knowledge, capabilities and work ethics to give their efforts in the organization and they are not
much enthusiastic to work for themselves and achieve the organizational goals. Also, they are
given less salaries and are made to work for long hours. This can decrease the standard of living
of the country and may impact the GDP of the nation.
Various Stakeholders in the Case
In the given case, the stakeholders involved are customers, internal employees, suppliers,
Government and Financial institution. If underage people are appointed in the organization, it
can lead to low productivity, mishandling of equipment, higher accidents, and low wages
workers, lack of skilled workers, decrease in standard of living and low GDP of the country.
However, as per the case, the parents of children who are working are joyous to see them
working as it is understood as a distinguished fact between long term wealth and prosperity and
poverty for children. For them it is completely ethical to work in job and their drop outs from
the school is validated with the fact of their poverty conditions at home ("Why Companies Are
Blind to Child Labor", 2017). Also, if the child himself is not interested to study in school, then

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there is no point in forcing him to continue his studies at school level. He must do the job and
earn a living for himself and his family.
Various Possible Decisions
The organization may either recruit underage people and provide them sufficient training or it
can stop the child labor completely and may offer financial aid to people as a part of their
corporate social responsibility and charity purposes. According to the current situation in Fiji,
people who are going through the phase of poverty are forcing their children for dropouts from
the schools as they cannot afford the money. They force their children to do job in such early age
so that their parents can afford to keep them covered with clothes and provide them food.
Otherwise, people who are earning sufficient income for their family are able to complete the
studies of their child. Thus, John Nakarawa who is the member of Board of Directors of the
company, being a Fijian himself, may consider to recruit underage people in the organization
because he himself understands the situation of poverty very well and the mindset of parents who
consider the school drop outs of their children as completely alright and ethical conduct. The
mentality of Australian people differs with that of Fijians.
Conclusion
As per the case study, the underage people must not be recruited in the organization as it can lead
to low productivity, mishandling of equipment, higher accidents, and low wages workers, lack of
skilled workers, decrease in standard of living and low GDP of the country. The hiring of
underage employees may cause huge disturbances in the normal functioning of the organization
as there will be increased communication gap because of age difference and lack of cooperation
in various departments. Thus, the impact and influence of decisions relating to the hiring of
underage employees can be negative on stakeholders as there are various functions involved in

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the organization like Financial, Managerial, Human Resource, Operation management etc. To
accomplish the perfection in every task, the employees must be well educated and highly
experienced to accomplish the goals of organization. If the financial reports of the organization
are made incorrect it can lead to misconception and deceptive disclosure of financial results of
the organization which can easily eradicate the trust of stakeholders from the organization.

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REFERENCES
(2017). Retrieved 14 March 2017, from http://www.aphref.aph.gov.au-house-committee-edt-
schoolandwork-subs-sub42attacha.pdf
Child labour worry - Fiji Times Online. (2017). Fijitimes.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=315665
Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. (2017). Education.seattlepi.com. Retrieved 14 March 2017,
from http://education.seattlepi.com/problems-cause-students-drop-out-school-1412.html
How Does Child Labour Effect Society Young People Essay. (2017). UKEssays. Retrieved 14
March 2017, from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/young-people/how-does-child-labour-
effect-society-young-people-essay.php
Is child labor ethical?. (2017). Debate.org. Retrieved 14 March 2017, from
http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-child-labor-ethical
Why Companies Are Blind to Child Labor. (2017). Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 14
March 2017, from https://hbr.org/2016/01/why-companies-are-blind-to-child-labor