Child Labor in Business Ethics

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Week 07 BE Paper | By: Daniel Roshwald B293/MAN2062 Section 12 Business Ethics - Spring 2012 BE Paper | (Child Labor & Business Ethics) Child labor is one of the topics that present strong emotions, beliefs and opinions. Most people are opposed to the involvement of children in labor force activities when they are at an age when other activities, such as education and play, should be the central role in development. However, child labor represents an extremely difficult and complex issue which often extends beyond emotions, beliefs and opinions. Much of this has to do with the understanding that a wide variety of factors, such as economic, cultural, social, political and legal concerns, are part of any child labor problems as well as the solution to these problems. An absolute ethical view among 1st world countries is that child labor trafficking is completely wrong. However, the people of the Ivory Coast think that child labor trafficking is acceptable because it is all they have ever known; it is their way of life. Consequently, I feel that child labor trafficking is not absolutely wrong, but it is unethical in MOST aspects. I believe that if the children are going to work, they should also receive basic human rights like the right to an education. Many companies view things on a cold calculated scale one of the justifications commonly used by corporations is that they are in compliance with the local laws so if the company is having products manufactured in a country that does not enforce child labor laws then they are not responsible. This is a continuing problem plaguing the world and it must be dealt with. There are solutions to child labor government organizations and industries should be pressured to act in a socially responsible manner

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