Wednesday 7 March 2012

If a child hasn't enough to eat, should he be working?






I don’t think he should be. If he is forced to work, he shall most probably learn only one skill and this will lower his opportunities for future career openings. Ultimately, he will be condemned to adopt his initial job for life, which many people actually do. That reverts to an earlier age of slavery, where one life= one job + no or little opportunities for growth.


There are many organisations set up to help such children have a better life. 


What are your views?


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Image source: Foreverliving

18 comments:

  1. In a country which values its citizens, the economic condition should not be so bad that a child is forced to go hungry. Therefore though he may be forced to work, I think its not the ideal solution.

    He will have to work in that situation, but he shouldnt be working..

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    1. "Have to work" to prevent him from becoming a thief you mean? How about those who 'make them work' to become slaves?

      Not all countries value their citizens, unfortunately.

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    2. Well, that's the norm unfortunately. In Bangladesh, child labour is quite common in industries located in the old part of the cities.

      But isn't "have to work" and "make them work" synonymous in the context of a developing country like BD?

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    3. Child labour eventually turns into child slavery, since children rarely know their rights.

      It limits growth potential. Same as using a gold mine as arable land.

      How is it synonymous? Those who "make them work" have a choice, and sadly, parents make this choice.

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    4. But to some extent slavery is necessary in the world.. Yes, it may be somewha immoral but still necessary. ::)

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    5. And why? Explain your reasons please?

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    6. Look, the world is built on the principles of inequality. Yes, ideally, you'd like to see everyone equal, but in reality, there will always be direct or indirect slavery.

      A child also gets paid for his or her work.. Considering the standards of the country in which she or he lives in, the payment is fair.

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    7. If I were to work as a child, I would definitely would not like it at all.

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    8. Borakk, I agree perfect equality is an ideal that does not fit our real world. But that does not mean meritocracy shouldn't exist, does it? Equality of opportunity is a basic human right.

      A child is underpaid-- and that is exactly why an untrained, immature, and unskilled worker gets paid.

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    9. Anonymous, nor would anyone else. Master of one's will, everybody should be.

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    10. but what will the child do if he hasnt got enough to eat? Isn't it comparatively better to work instead of dying of hunger?

      Actually, I was the anynomous, forgot to select profile. :P

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    11. This hypothesis that it is comparatively better for a child to work if he has not enough to eat is the whole root of poverty. Rural, destitute people go on producing and producing kids and make their young children work for the household while they themselves find it difficult to support. And because that child has been mentally conditioned since a young age by the experiences he lived, he shall do the same to his own children, and they shall perpetuate it to theirs and end up ruining the lives of generations and generations of innocents.

      'Working' isn't the first option. There are many NGOs and many people who'd like to adopt children around the world. Every country has a government that is expected to cater for the needs of the population, especially the vulnerable groups. All of these options *seem* improbable because of the poor conditioning of society's viewpoint since the ages when people did not develop open-minded thinking.

      Has it occurred to you that 'working' could-- well, does-- also imply performing low spirited, and self-destructive jobs like prostitution and exhibition?

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  2. I agree with Alpha on this.. Borakk why is "slavery is necessary in the world"?? Would you like, if, you were forced to work when you were just a child?? One should let a child live his childhood properly so as to be mentally fit when grown.. Am being able to say this because i have seen child labour.
    sorry to say but the parent who let their children to be someone's slave, has no right to be a parent..

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    1. Iwas writnig in a collective level

      I didn't say that child slavery should continue, just that, it is unrealistic to expect no slavery.even though it might be unfair or immoral

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    2. Idealism, just like fiction, catches up with reality sometimes.

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    3. SOmetimes... sometimes* ::)

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  3. To my personal and most educated opinion, I think it's not their fault. It's definitely not their fault, at all! Who we should blame is.. no one. Not even the one who are making them work. Why? Because it's not their fault either. May be, they were made to work when they were the same age and they carried the legacy.

    Education. This is what we need to end child slavery. Not shutting down the firm. If we look at this through business POV then, it's right as long as little children are not there. But then, finance comes into action and puts a full-stop to the whole plan. Now, THIS is where humanity comes in. Humanity: which lacks greatly in our world.

    I think we need to create an awareness in order to stop child labor. I strongly dislike the thing about charity. I think if you earn good, then you can give good. I don't earn, but, I still don't mind donating my blood. I know it'll help someone. No, I'm not praising myself here.

    At last, I think to end child slavery is not money but awareness between people. That will put a 'comma' in money and education, vanishing child slavery/labor.

    That's my belief.

    Basim

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    1. You are right when you say humanity comes in where business and finance build traps in the road of progress. But the problem is that, as with capitalism, people are guided by self-interests and see only near benefits. If those children are allowed an education, in the long term, our supply of labour will increase and this, theoretically speaking for now, should decrease the cost of hiring workers--and at the same time increase their productivity, which would in fact be good for businesses. That's why the most advanced nations are those with the best intellectual mine. But the biggest problem still remains: people see near benefits and ignore the long term.

      Awareness, you said. That's true and evident. The real challenge to be overcome is: how to?
      How to make people aware? How to fight their prejudices? How to conquer obscurantism?
      If this 'how' had a clear cut answer,by now, child labour would've been extinct.

      Thank you for reading. See you around more. :)

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