Child Labour During The Victorian Era

Despite the continuous efforts to eradicate child labor, it remains one of the most disturbing phenomenon around the globe. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), child labor can be identified as state and government laws forbidding the employment of children under the age of eighteen, except at certain specified jobs. One would think America as a nation would be more cautious and not participate in a social issue that exploits young children to produce merchandise. However, without thinking of it, we have all been a part of the problem by buying products from companies whose businesses are ran by under age kids. U.S. companies like Wal-Mart, Victoria’s Secret, Apple, and Gap have all taken part in using young children for revenue. With
In the entire population of London, about one fifth of children went to school as children were put to work at the age of four and died before age thirty “Occupational death was not uncommon for working Victorian children.” (Victorian Children) due to working in coal mines, tobacco farms, mills, toxic pesticides, children were more vulnerable to catching disease and developing mental and physical disabilities that takes a large toll on their bodies and health. Children could not quit their jobs and had no choice but to depend on their manager as they did not sufficient money and fear for their lives. Moreover as child labor expand in American and Europe, during the 1800s, the Twentieth century brought in new efforts to eliminate child labor. As the Great Depression came around, Americans wanted their jobs back rather than it going to the children. “By 1930, 4 million Americans looking for work could not find it; that number had risen to 6 million in 1931” (History) This caused for companies to take their business to third world countries as Asia, and Africa especially had different rules and
The Walsh-Healey Act which stated that stated “U.S. governments should not purchase goods made by underage children” (ILO). American president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 where the minimum age to work, benefits, and hours children are allowed to work are regulated by the federal law. Ages fourteen to fifteen are restricted to work under certain hours and with the consent of a parent, “A 14- or 15-year-old employee may work up to 40 hours a week when school is not in session, but they can work no more than 18 hours over the course of a school week. Only the hours between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. are valid work hours for 14- and 15-year-olds.” (Chron