Is child labour a sin with which the developing world has to live?
Children all over are being abused and neglected in the name of work, and not getting proper healthcare and education. But I dont think we have to live with it. We can work as responsible companies and citizens. Access to education and gradual reduction in number of working hours can eventually address this problem. If you simply withdraw your contractors, you may create a difficult situation for children and their families. You have to deal with each case on an individual basis in a responsible manner. Is globalisation and greater competitive pressures causing corporates to abuse labour to keep their costs down? I think it is the case, although very often it is not the cost of the labour that is keeping their costs up. I was in Nicaragua and I was watching workers being paid 18 cents, half of what they need to live. Would it hurt the company one little bit if they paid twice the labour cost on a pair of jeans selling for $44? Now, if you add an extra 50 cents to a pair of jeans costin
