Child Labor In Under Developed Country Commerce Essay Example

several child labour prevention laws and conventions by ILO ( "National Legislation," 2009 ). Prohibitions on Pakistan by international organizations and countries, such as the FIFA ban on Pakistan's football industry, have been imposed in several instances. Despite making primary education compulsory and free until primary standards, children in Pakistan do not attend schools ( Arshad, n.d. ). The central question is what makes this problem "wicked"? The socio-economic conditions are far worse than anyone can imagine due to the lack of a basic economic structure that can ensure a good future for these children.

If individuals decide to quit their job, they will face consequences such as losing access to education and being more likely to participate in negative activities (Arshad, n.d.). Moreover, with the growing population in the country, families with children will seek extra income by involving them in work (Hyat, 2010). Consequently, this creates a harmful cycle that demands a comprehensive and long-term solution rather than a quick fix.

Stakeholders

The nature of their work puts the lives, future prospects, careers, and health of children involved in Pakistan's child labor industry at risk.

The Government of Pakistan, including its federal ministry of labour and provincial labour and manpower sections, along with the International Labor Organization (ILO), are key stakeholders in addressing child labour. The ILO, known as the leading authority on this issue, collaborates with the Pakistan government through its specific program on eliminating child labour (IPEC). Non-government organizations (NGOs) funded from around the world also play a role in tackling child labour in Pakistan. Additionally, companies and businesses that employ child labour are significant stakeholders. In a country like Pakistan, banning child labour may

have negative consequences such as increased involvement in criminal activities and additional socio-economic burdens.

The problem at hand is not easily solved. It is important to incorporate different programs that address all symptoms and issues related to the problem. One example is involving organizations like ILO and UNICEF, who fight against child labor. These organizations should also advocate for prioritizing children's education by Pakistani governments and institutes, as it is the only definite way to eliminate child labor in the country. However, this action alone will not be enough (emphasizing seriousness).

The economic conditions of disadvantaged households necessitate fiscal assistance to provide support and stability. It is not surprising that children in Pakistan may lack the opportunities available to children in developed and western countries, and it is important for the world to show compassion towards them regarding this matter.

Circumstantial Analysis

As previously mentioned, stopping child labor in Pakistan can have both positive and negative consequences. If these children are removed from labor, they will be left without any occupation as most of them would be around 13-14 years old by then and unable to attend school. Moreover, they are unlikely to receive any government benefits. However, younger children (5-10 years old) still have the potential to attend school if they are withdrawn from labor.

It is crucial for authorities in Pakistan to take decisive actions and receive support from the international community to address this issue. This section will discuss some reflections on the decisions made so far.
Scenario I
In response to international pressure, the US government amended a defense measure to prohibit the importation of goods produced by children (either partially or entirely) from Pakistan (MacFadedde, 2009). External

stakeholders indirectly influenced this decision regarding child labor. This action serves as a positive example of such influence. In 2006, FIFA banned the purchase of footballs from Pakistan due to child labor practices, despite it being a major supplier for FIFA World Cup events (Arshad, n.d.).

This determination demonstrates the impact of influences on the country. The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce has banned child labor in the soccer industry due to pressure, and it is anticipated that other unions in the rug making and exporting sectors will follow suit (Iqbal, 2009). They are providing financial assistance for eradicating child labor and offering informal education and training to children. Additionally, the Employers Federation of Pakistan, Site Association Karachi, and Skill Development Councils are actively engaged.

Scenario II

In addition, a national NGO known as the Child Care Foundation has been established to oversee the eradication, rehabilitation, and prevention of child labor in exportable goods.

Although it is a good measure, the implementation of addressing child labor should not be limited to exportable goods but extend to every aspect of life.

Scenario III

The Pakistani government is taking action in terms of public policy and administration by establishing child welfare foundations and funds. These initiatives aim to provide financial support for children in labor and reintegrate them into society. Pakistan bait-ul-maal has set up thirty-six centers nationwide with the goal of eradicating child labor (Iqbal, 2009).

Ethical Theories and Child Labor

This section discusses various ethical theories that highlight the importance of addressing child labor (to be discussed later in the paper).

Consequential Theories

Consequential theories are fundamental principles in normative ethics that assess the morality of actions based on their resulting positive or negative consequences.

According to

Login (2008), embracing an action is justified if it has a positive impact on the population. Various theories, such as utilitarianism, selflessness, and egoism, elaborate on this idea. Utilitarianism states that an action is morally correct if it produces positive consequences for all individuals affected. Selflessness suggests that an action is morally correct if it benefits everyone except the individual carrying it out. On the other hand, egoism argues that an action is morally correct if it only brings favorable outcomes to the individual or party involved.

So, we need to analyze situations and actions based on their consequences according to the consequentialist approach to ethics.

Deontological Theories

Deontological theory, also known as the duty theory, proposes that an action or decision is considered right if it adheres to the obligations of the individual/group performing the action or making the decision (MacFadden, 1998). Therefore, the focus should be on developing the responsibilities and codes of conduct for these entities so that their actions are inherently and morally correct without further analyzing the outcomes (MacFadden, 1998). However, if an action is not morally right but aligns with the code of duty, then it must be taken.

Cultural and Social Relativism

Some ethical theories can be influenced by the culture and society in which they are applied. This means that cultural and societal norms can impact these theories ("Cultural relativism," n.d.).

The internationalization of business has led to a demand for understanding civilization and society, as well as developing moral codes that harmonize with their customs. In the past, child labor was deemed acceptable in American culture but underwent gradual transformation and

ultimately became unlawful. Cultural relativism acknowledges the absence of a universal norm for defining "right" behavior; rather, it asserts that what is considered "right" is determined by the decision maker's national culture. However, with increasing globalization of business, conflicting cultural norms and laws can give rise to ethical predicaments.

The Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics

Corporate responsibilities are similar to those of governments and other stakeholders. There are two types of companies within a country: domestic firms and multinational corporations. The concept of corporate social responsibility involves the obligation to adhere to societal and ethical standards during business operations. Both domestic companies and multinationals share concerns about child labor (Kolk & Tuldar, 2004). It is crucial for companies to establish business codes that not only prohibit child labor within their own operations but also among their partners (Kolk & Tuldar, 2002). If a company discovers its suppliers employing child labor, it should terminate its association with that supplier (Kolk & Tuldar, 2002).

Governments have the authority to impose regulations and ethical standards on companies in order to enforce their compliance and attempt to eradicate child labor. This section of the paper explores the relationships and applications of ethical theories regarding child labor, specifically focusing on the issue at hand.

Child Labor and Utilitarianism

According to utilitarianism, child labor is considered ethically wrong as it results in negative consequences for those involved, particularly children. Child labor hinders the development and potential of children who could have much better lives if they were given proper education and opportunities.

Child labor is harmful to children's physical and mental well-being, as well as their future prospects. This acknowledgment has led

to global recognition of the damage caused by child labor and increased pressure on the Pakistani government to act. Consequently, the government has introduced positive initiatives in response. Ideally, these actions would lead to significant outcomes such as eliminating forced child labor and guaranteeing welfare provided by the government.

Child Labor and Altruism Despite the benefits that industries and businesses gain from using inexpensive child labor in countries like Pakistan, endorsing it is unjustifiable. According to the theory of altruism, we should oppose it because it will benefit children, even if it may harm the finances of companies employing child labor. In Pakistan, certain industries such as soccer heavily relied on child labor in the past. However, steps have been taken to eliminate or reduce child labor in this industry due to its positive effects on children. As a result, this action had a temporary negative impact on the industry's workforce.

Child Labor: Deontology and Corporate Social Responsibility

From a deontological perspective, child labor is deemed morally and legally unacceptable due to its negative consequences and violation of natural norms. Despite laws in Pakistan prohibiting companies from employing children, child labor remains prevalent in the workforce.

To address this issue in Pakistan where corporations persist in hiring children, it is essential to establish codes of corporate social responsibility and business ethics. This approach is necessary as governmental regulations and non-governmental organizations alone are insufficient to completely eliminate the problem of child labor.

The necessary actions should be implemented at the grassroots level, with every aspect of society following the same principles and models.

Evaluation of different problems involved in the issue

In a developing country such as Pakistan, child labor presents a

complex ethical dilemma that is even more insidious than it may initially appear. The problem involves multiple aspects, including economics, socio-economics, culture, and morality, which surpasses the scope of this paper. This section of the report investigates the issues at hand.

Child labor is a complex issue that violates ethical, moral, and social principles. Instead of receiving an education, children who are forced to work at a young age face risks to their well-being and prospects for the future. This problem is evident in Pakistan where child labor has become ingrained in the culture. However, simply removing children from labor may not be a straightforward solution as it can lead to other challenges such as limited access to education or insufficient school facilities. Moreover, the political instability of the country further exacerbates their vulnerability to exploitation.

In the current state of affairs in Pakistan, the issue at hand is extremely serious, highly complex, and widely disputed.

Regarding the Global Position

Child labor is a worldwide problem. If Pakistani companies employ children to produce goods that are exported globally, especially to Western countries, concerns will arise due to the sensitive nature of the issue. International authorities will make every effort to impose restrictions on the government to address the problem of child labor.

It is the same situation in Pakistan. There have been numerous instances where pressure has been put on the Pakistani government to take action against child labor, and this pressure has led to some positive changes in the form of laws, societal and corporate awareness, and a sense of responsibility from government institutions in Pakistan. For example, the incidents of the US government censoring Pakistani imports that

use child labor and FIFA censoring Pakistani soccer balls are good examples.

The Conflict Between Legislation and Implementation

Another issue is that while the Pakistani government has developed laws, institutions, and codes of conduct regarding child labor due to international and domestic pressures, the actual implementation on the ground is not tangible, as shown by the previous evidence suggesting that approximately 4 million children are still in the workforce. The problem lies in the lack of widespread adoption of ethical and moral codes of conduct within society, particularly within the corporate or business sector that continues to employ children despite the pressure and laws.

Course of Action

The job has been defined, explained, and related issues and factors have been discussed earlier in this study. This section presents a course of action for addressing the issue based on ethical reasons.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, child labor is morally, ethically, and legally wrong. Various ethical theories, such as utilitarianism, altruism, the theory of responsibility, and corporate social responsibility, can be applied to argue against child labor. Therefore, we can conclude that ethics and ethical theories provide a solid foundation for taking actions against child labor.

The solution to the issue of child labour in Pakistan is not simple; it requires a collective effort. The steps for effectively eradicating child labour from Pakistani society are as follows:

The Build-Up of Pressure

International participants, governments, and organizations need to exert more pressure on the Pakistani authorities to take stronger action against child labour. Only then will it be feasible to make real progress. The international business community that conducts trade with Pakistan in various sectors must voice

their concerns about child labour in the country.

A global effort can be made to address the issue, just as it has been witnessed happening in various other countries such as China, Africa, and India. However, if the Pakistani government is unable to contribute, global NGOs and economic development institutions should collaborate to provide funding for this noble cause, as we have seen it happening in many impoverished nations.

The implementation of statute laws is essential.

All the necessary laws and conventions are already in place. However, the Pakistani government has established monitoring institutions, but they lack the authority to enforce these laws. It is crucial to develop effective judicial measures to address this issue and make progress.

Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility

Promoting corporate social responsibility should be a fundamental strategy for Pakistan. If corporations and businesses understand their responsibility, it will be much easier for the government to take effective measures against child labor. Immediate action should be taken to create and implement education programs, whether formal or informal, for business owners, multinationals, and private companies.

Regular Audit and Monitoring

Regular audit and monitoring of companies, rural mills, and stores is necessary to observe and eliminate child labour. This can be achieved through domestic mechanisms or by inviting foreign watchdogs to intervene. Such measures will impose significant pressure on employers and compel them to abandon this unethical practice.

Support for Withdrawn Children

There should be a system in place to align schools and welfare programs provided by domestic and international organizations in order to support children who have been withdrawn from child labour

in Pakistan.

Another Perspective

It should be noted that child labour in Pakistan is not an isolated issue.

The issue of child labor in Pakistan is influenced by factors such as poverty, unemployment, and population. To effectively address this problem, a comprehensive approach is necessary to target these specific factors. Although there is no quick fix to completely eradicate child labor in Pakistan due to the complexity of the issue, it is important to take action and start addressing it from the appropriate place.