Child laborers toil in Thai seafood factories
CNN Website:- http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/04/24/thailand.child.labor.reut/index.html
Stories like Nampeung's are more common than you think in poverty-stricken countries. Born in Thailand to parents with little skills, Nampeung has took it upon herself to help her parents make ends meet by taking on a job at the local seafood factory peeling prawn shells. Considered one of the high-earners among the other kids at the factory, Nampeung takes home about USD$9 a day in an industry that rakes in about USD$2 billion yearly. Surprisingly, half of the exported shelled prawns go to the United States of America thru retail companies such as Walmart. It is surprising that one of most vocal nations against child labour are the ones financing it.
I suppose industries that exploit child labour are a necessary evil. Where-else would poor families be able to get extra money to feed themselves? Besides, youngsters in poor countries often resort to crimes such as theft, robberies and fraud to "earn" extra buck, at least these children working in a proper factory are acting responsibly.
Of course one might say that it is a short-time and narrow minded solution to poverty. One certainly cannot expect a child like Nampeung to go on shelling prawns for the rest of her life! Certainly not in this day and age where technology is so rampant and precise that it can even perform surgery on delicate body parts! Sooner or later, she would be replaced and rendered unnecessary by machines that shell prawns faster than she can say, "Give me work!". Therefore I think that the best thing for developing countries such as Thailand, would be to educate them in the area of labour intensive industries and heavy industries for the male. That way, students can both be studying and working for a salary almost simutaneously ensuring that he or she gets an education without having to go hungry because there is no money at home. Also, governments instead of banning child labour should actually legalise it as it would not benefit anyone if it went underground. If it is legalised, governments would be able to help these children demand a better salary. It is shameful to learn that Nampeung, a top-earner at her factory, earns only $9 a day from an industry that rakes in $2 billion a year! I believe that the main offense in child labour is not that a child is made to work but because he or she is paid peanuts for it.
I suppose industries that exploit child labour are a necessary evil. Where-else would poor families be able to get extra money to feed themselves? Besides, youngsters in poor countries often resort to crimes such as theft, robberies and fraud to "earn" extra buck, at least these children working in a proper factory are acting responsibly.
Of course one might say that it is a short-time and narrow minded solution to poverty. One certainly cannot expect a child like Nampeung to go on shelling prawns for the rest of her life! Certainly not in this day and age where technology is so rampant and precise that it can even perform surgery on delicate body parts! Sooner or later, she would be replaced and rendered unnecessary by machines that shell prawns faster than she can say, "Give me work!". Therefore I think that the best thing for developing countries such as Thailand, would be to educate them in the area of labour intensive industries and heavy industries for the male. That way, students can both be studying and working for a salary almost simutaneously ensuring that he or she gets an education without having to go hungry because there is no money at home. Also, governments instead of banning child labour should actually legalise it as it would not benefit anyone if it went underground. If it is legalised, governments would be able to help these children demand a better salary. It is shameful to learn that Nampeung, a top-earner at her factory, earns only $9 a day from an industry that rakes in $2 billion a year! I believe that the main offense in child labour is not that a child is made to work but because he or she is paid peanuts for it.
posted by Clarence Tan @ 8:16 PM
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