750 essay on Thomas Jefferson

Have you ever had a pair of Nike shoes that just fell apart after wearing them? This is a common problem for most people. At first, since the shoes were made in China, people thought that the shoes had zero effort put into them. What if I told you that those shoes were made from kids! That’s right, Nike is still using child labor in different parts of the world. In this essay, I will state my claim on whether child labor should be used to manufacture the products we buy. While a case can be made for either side, I personally believe that child labor should be discouraged.

Child labor is unsafe; it can affect children's physical and mental wellbeing. Children who are put to work at a young age may not get proper nutrition. Education is another aspect of a child's life that may suffer. Children who work at an early age miss out on schooling, social skills with their peers, and other normal childhood activities. According to the article, “This Company is Employing Children? Let’s Boycott their Products! Or Better not?” Nadira Faumüller said, “There is nothing else than to vehemently fight against “work” that goes along with gross abuse like forced labor, carrying heavy weights or any other activity putting a child’s physical or mental wellbeing in danger.” Many jobs that children are “hired” for can be considered dangerous. Sometimes children who work are required to lift heavy objects which can put a strain on their bodies. The corporations like to use children because they have the tendency to obey more than the average adult. Many countries are trying to enforce stricter laws about child labor because they see the importance of education in a child’s life and their physical being.

Americans typically want to purchase items cheap. Demand for cheaper products means you must cut costs elsewhere. Many companies look for low-cost locations that can produce goods in a short amount of time. This increases pressure to finish things quickly, with poor quality material and cheap labor. According to the article, “Nike Pledges to End Child Labor and Apply U.S. Rules Abroad” John H. Cushman Jr. said, “But for mouths, the company, which spends huge sums for advertising and endorsements by big-name athletes, has practices, as student groups have demanded that universities doing business with Nike hold it to higher standards.” The need for companies to stay competitive at all costs creates this dramatic effect of cheaper and quicker everything. This can lead to lower standards in all aspects of the company. All in all, this aggressive competitiveness has led to poorer quality items, terrible working conditions, extremely low wages and the use of child labor.

A first reaction to child labor may be to get rid of the practice completely. It is hard to understand why parents would allow their children to work in dangerous conditions with very little pay. First, customs within different countries do not find anything horribly wrong with permitting their children to perform such tasks. It is simply a part of life. Many times, the money children bring in from their wages keeps the family from extreme poverty. Secondly, education is not viewed as being essential for success later in life. Therefore, missing education is not a reason to stop working. As a matter of fact, many parents are required to pay for their children’s schooling. However, Wages paid by the corporations that use child labor are so low and sometimes not even paid, it doesn’t seem to be a good reason to keep youth from their normal childhood. According to the article, Cushman said that, “Mr. Knight's pledges did not include increased wage, a major complaint of critics who say that Nike and other American companies pay workers in China and Vietnam less than $2 a day and workers in Indonesia less than $1a day.” The negatives for child labor (no education, poor nutrition, terrible working conditions, low wages, etc...) are reason enough for countries to have guidelines regarding child labor.

In conclusion, there are many people who believe child labor should be outlawed. Many families in third world nations are faced with financial hardships. Sometimes this can force families into making tough decisions. I think it is the responsibility of the corporations to have a strict hiring age that should be appropriate for the hours worked and the type of labor. It is important that the mental and physical health and wellbeing of the children are not being challenged. Poor work environments and low standards can cause the products they manufacture to be of inferior quality. In the end, without an overhaul of standard procedures, child labor continues to be the exploitation of children in developing nations. Parents are being forced to make tough decisions at their children's expense.