Introduction
In the 21 century, the issue of child labor has become alarming and more minors are involved in it. The issue is interfering with the development of the teenagers and therefore it is impacting the community negatively; though the advancement in technology has enabled people to be more connected. Technology has been used to solve issues that have been affecting the community like barriers in communication, however, it have failed in solving the issue of child labor. This makes child labor a scourge that is impacting communities around the world. To solve this alarming issue there is need for international organizations to come together in formulating strategies that can be used in solving the issue of child labor. I am of the opinion that governments from different countries can participate in solving the issue of child labor by passing laws that address this issue. This paper aims to highlight solutions that can be enacted in solving of child labor in the 21 st century.
It is estimated that over 200 million children are engaged in child labor in different countries around the world (Diallo, Alex Etienne, & Mehran, 2013). This type of labor is dangerous to the minors, considering they are in initial growth stage and their bodies have not matured. In this context children lack the physical and mental powers to handle the hazardous works that is associated with child labor. It is unfortunate that even children under the age of 10 years are trapped in child labor- more than 73 million children under the age of 10 years are involved in child labor. Countries in Sub-Saharan and Asia region have the highest number of children engaging in child labor (Diallo, Alex Etienne, & Mehran, 2013).
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Possible solutions
There have been efforts to address the issue of child labor around the globe, but it seems that the laws have not been properly implemented. Legally, child labor can be described as any work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity (Buck, 2014). This is the type of work that can harm the physical-development of the child and therefore ruin his or her life. The child labor organization is one of the formations that have worked hard to pass laws and guide countries in protecting children from this kind of work. In 1990 the organization set an international law which was ratified by over 190 countries ( Nogler, & Pertile, 2016).
Some policies and laws that can be enacted to help minimize child labor would involve banning the worst forms of the works that involve children. The International Labor Organization, claims that child labor is happening through various forms like Debt bondage, child trafficking, slavery-like practices, forced recruitment of children in armed conflict, prostitution, production of pornography, and drug trafficking ( Srivastava, 2011). Therefore, these works should be banned and severe punishment being passed for offenders it would serve to minimize the chances of children participating in this works (Humphries, 2013). For instance, if it is discovered that children are being used in prostitution and drug trafficking there should be enactment of tough laws to minimize opportunity of such works. Tough laws like capital punishment can be meted on those who force children on such woks.
The companies that employ children should be closed down and their licenses of operation canceled. There should be law prohibiting companies and businesses from employing children as workers. Besides passing such laws there should be adverts to call on people to report on such companies; when residents discover that a certain company employing minors, there should be well defined channels that can be used to report those companies to the authorities (Srivastava, 2011). The residents can also be informed on the alternative of boycotting products from companies that take minors as workers.
Initiating education policies can serve as a solution to child labor. Children under the age of 18 years should not be working but schooling. In this regard, if governments pass laws that demand all the children to be in school, this would help to minimize the problem of child labor (Nguyen, 2017). Making schooling free and making it a must for all children will eliminate the risk of children being trapped in child labor. Parents who fail to take their children to school should be arrested and punished. Additionally parents or guardian who has their children participating in labor also need to be punished.
Child labor is an issue that is greatly accelerated by poverty (Abdullahi, Noor, Said, & Baharumshah, 2016). Therefore if there is enactment of laws that issues fund and similar support to the poor in the society, it would be possible to minimize the issue of child labor. For instance if there is a scheme here children from poor families are provided with formal or informal education and then given financial stipends, it would help to solve the issue of child labor. Government from developing countries that enact such a law can be offer support by the international organizations and people of good will to ensure the law is implemented accordingly (Abdullahi, Noor, Said, & Baharumshah, 2016).
Conclusion
In conclusion, newer policies and strategies by governments can help to solve the issue of child labor. Suggested laws include banning all the works in which children are involved. Examples of this works include construction involving children, prostitution and drug trafficking. Child labor can also be solved by making education a must for all children and making it more affordable. Designing poverty reduction schemes could also help in solving the issue of child labor and ensuring children are engaged in educational institutions and environments. This is some of the solutions that could solve the issue if child labor in the 21 st century.
References
Abdullahi, I. I., Noor, Z. M., Said, R., & Baharumshah, A. Z. (2016). Does Poverty Influence Prevalence of Child Labour in Developing Countries?. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues , 6 (1)..
Buck, T. (2014). International child law. Routledge.
Diallo, Y., alex Etienne, & Mehran, F. (2013). Global child labour trends 2008 to 2012 . ILO.
Humphries, J. (2013). Childhood and child labour in the British industrial revolution. The Economic History Review , 66 (2), 395-418.
Nguyen, C. (2017). Made By Children: The Exploitation Of Child Labour In Agriculture, Industry And The Service Sector In Mainland China. Brawijaya Law Journal , 4 (2), 237- 254.
Nogler, L., & Pertile, M. (2016). Child labour in a globalized world: a legal analysis of ILO action . Routledge.
Srivastava, K. (2011). Child labour issues and challenges. Industrial psychiatry journal, 20(1), 1
