Is Child Labor Illegal?

From 2000 to 2016, the number of kids forced to work was trending downwards, falling by 94 million children in that time, but that progress has now stalled for the first time in 20 years.[1] The United Nations proposed in its targets for countries to take immediate action against child labor and end it in all forms by 2025.[2] This would seem to indicate that the terrible practice will be over in the next few years; however, certain companies are hesitant in doing their part to meet this goal and the edicts of their countries. Children are the least expensive laborers, as they have little to no bargaining power and are easily manipulated.[3] Employing children minimizes cost, and some companies are not too eager to see that extra profit margin go.[4] Sadly, families of child laborers can also argue hardest against reform in this area because it means they lose that extra source of income.[5] The truth is that a lot of impoverished families rely just as much on the children’s income as the parents’ to survive.[6]