While child labor is viewed negatively, apparently child labor and child slavery aren’t the same thing, and child labor though it could still be exploitative/cruel in other ways, can be done voluntarily by the child, and with fair treatment/compensation/etc.

I suppose you could make the argument that any child labor opens itself up to problems, but could it be done responsibly? And if not, then at what age do we draw the line of labor being not ok regardless of consent?

  • rufus@discuss.tchncs.de
    13·
    1 year ago

    Labor: No. Consent doesn’t matter.

    Doing jobs / working as a kid is perfectly alright if it contributes to their education, teaches them skills for life or helps them learn how to become an independent individual. But within limits. They also need time to grow, have fun and go to school.

    Other than that, children will consensually work if the alternative is seeing their little sister starve. Help contribute to the family income or happily skip school if able. Under a certain age, children are regarded as not very wise, unable to consent and easily manipulable. For example by cruel or stupid parents.

    That is why it needs to be banned to a certain (and arguable) age. Instead, the state/society needs to provide for poor children, and protect them. Sometimes even from their parents and themselves. Until they’re grown enough to make their own decisions.

      • rufus@discuss.tchncs.de
        1·
        1 year ago

        If these protections work 100% and the kids are for sure not being manipulated and it doesn’t take away from their education… And we’re sure they don’t ‘not know better’. I’m not sure if we’d need that ban.

        Let’s say you’re Harry Potter. Or Hermione Granger and you’re 11 yo and you have people to make sure you don’t suffer from working. I’m okay with that. And I think they got paid more than minimum wage. I didn’t watch the documentary so I don’t know if it worked out alright for them. But starring in movies reportedly is hard work.

    • prole@beehaw.orgEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Other than that, children will consensually work if the alternative is seeing their little sister starve

      I’m not sure I would call that “consent.” It’s coercion.