Pros And Cons Of Child Labour

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Incredible India. The country with the second highest population, soon to be the first, being the world's most populous democracy. A rapidly growing economy, sending a probe to Mars with a record breaking low budget of $73 million, and increasing their GDP per capita by more than $1000 in ten years. The country with the third largest standing army in the world, ranking ninth in military expenditures. And a country with 12 million children engaged in child labor. Child labor is defined by Britannica as employment of children below a specified legal age. Although small work that does not interfere with school, or apprenticeship programs can be beneficial to the child's growth, hard labor that interferes with a normal childhood is considered a big problem. Child labor has always been a …show more content…

This consequence of children in the workforce affects people on a national level, making it the most acute, or widespread effect. The ILO wrote that "...the key to a prospering economy is to have an educated workforce equipped with skills needed in the industry" (“Child Labor in India” Wikipedia). However, children in child labor often work as an alternative to an education, and to the children who want schooling, child labor is a barrier to education. This leads to a less educated workforce later on, hindering the national economy. Additionally, child labor also drags down individuals' earnings. A study conducted in Brazil showed that becoming economically active before age 13 decreases adult lifetime earnings by up to 17 percent (Stokes). This will also potentially cause their children to engage in child labor as well, starting a vicious cycle. The same can be assumed for India, due to the similar economies and problems of both countries. Child labor clearly weakens both the country's and individuals' economy. As India is still a developing country, to boost its economy India needs to address this problem of child

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