CHILD LABOR
DEPRIVING CHILDREN OF THEIR CHILDHOODS SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY
Industrial Revolution:
Beginning with the Industrial Revolution in the mid 18th century, different
products came into high demand and production rates quickened. In order to
meet these demands, employees would be forced to work for 12-19 hours a
day in dangerous conditions. These workers were poor men, women, and
children.
Children were valuable employees to factory and coal mine employers, due to
their small standing. While deemed beneficial in their line of work, children didn't
have any time for relaxation, social activity, or even education. They were
ripped away from their lives. Things, such as being late for work, resulted in
beatings. Child laborers were given very little time to recharge during their long
work days, some barely had the time to eat.
Modern Day:
According to the World Report on Child
Labour (2013), there continues to be a
excessively high amount of children who
are stuck in the loop, approximately 265
million child laborers. In 1960, the labor
force participation was 24.18%, while, in
1995, it was recorded that 13.02% of
children (ages 10-14) were forced to
work. This shows that child labor rates
have been declining.
Industrial Rev.
Modern Day
11.7%
2.5%
During the stages of the
Industrial Revolution,
11.66% of boys and girls
in the United States were
forced to work. The
trend slowly increases,
but rapidly decreases as.
we begin the 20th
century.
In the United States, the
amount of childeren
working dropped down to
2.46% in the 1930s.
Following the declining
trend for most countries in
the modern era, the global
child labor rates decrease
as well.
While numbers have rapidly decreased
throughout the past few decades, many
countries still allow child labor and depend on
it. According to ILO - Marking Progress
Against Child Labor, boys and teens between
the ages of 15-17 are still highly favored in
child labor. Countries like Nepal have rates
that continue to rise. Others, including Chad
and Colombia, have increasing rates
regarding children between the the ages of 714 who don't attend school because of their
work schedules.
The amount of children who aren't able to live out and enjoy their childhoods aren't as
intense as they were during the industrial revolution, but it still continues to be a
concerning global issue.