Child labor laws have existed throughout history. In the early decades of the twentieth  century, the numbers of child laborers increased. Child labor refers to the employment of children that deprives children of their childhood. It interfered with things such as school,which was mentally, physically, socially and morally dangerous and harmful. This practice was considered exploitative by international organisations. These laws do not consider all work by children as child labor; exceptions include work by child artists, supervised training, certain categories and (etc…).

Industrial Revolution

During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as four areemployed in production factories with dangerous, and often fatal, working conditions.  Based on this understanding of the use of children as laborers, it is now considered by wealthy countries to be a human rights violation, and is outlawed, while some poorer countries may allow or tolerate child labor. Child labor can also be defined as the full-time employment of children who are under a minimum legal age.

Primary Causes

Certain cultural have rationalized child labor and thereby encouraged it. Some view that work is good for the character-building and skill development of children. In many cultures, particular where informal economy and small household businesses thrive, the cultural tradition is that children follow in their parents' footsteps; child labor then is a means to learn and practice that trade from a very early age. Similarly, in many cultures the education of girls is less valued or girls are simply not expected to need formal schooling, and these girls pushed into child labor such as providing domestic services.

Eliminating Child Labor

Concerns have often been raised over the buying public's moral complicity in purchasing products assembled or otherwise manufactured in developing countries with child labor. However, others have raised concerns that boycotting products manufactured through child labor may force these children to turn to more dangerous or strenuous professions, such as prostitution or agriculture. Study found that after the Child Labor Deterrence Act was introduced in the US, an estimated 50,000 children were dismissed from their garment industry jobs leaving many to resort to jobs such as "stone-crushing, street hustling, and prostitution", jobs that are "more hazardous and exploitative than garment production". The International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor founded in 1992, aims to eliminate child labor. It operates in 88 countries and is the largest program of its kind in the world.

Hello my name is Katie Pitts, and today i am sitting here with Jasmine Gates. She was one of the children who were in the child labor. Her whole life she was working in farms, churches, factories, and labor groups. Today she is turning 12 years old , so everybody says HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! She also here today to tell us about Child Labor.

Katie Pitts- Hello Jasmine

Jasmine Gates- Hello

Katie- Where did Child Labor begin at?

Jasmine- Child labor had started in cottage mills in New England and the south; glass factories in West Virginia and New Jersey; Pennsylvania coal mines; Massachusetts cranberry bogs; sugar beet fields in Wisconsin and Colorado; canneries in Maine, Mississippi, and Maryland; and city streets in many parts of the country.

Katie- How long did y'all work in the fields and factories?

Jasmine- We worked over and over, i was working sixty- and seventy-hour weeks. By day and by night, often under hazardous conditions.

Katie- Do you any experiences (education)?

Jasmine- i was growing up stunted mentally. Illiterate or barely able to read because my job kept me out of school and physically. I never had time to play with my friends or family , or exercise. and yeah im also now learning how to write and read.

Katie- Did you make any money at all

Jasmine- Me and the others received only money in exchange for our work and a very little money at that.

Katie- What happen in the 19th century

Jasmine- Many states that i know of had enacted laws to regulate child labor in many industries. these laws raised the age limits at which children were allowed to work; restricted the number of work hours permissible and eliminated night work.

Katie- Well thanks for letting me interviewing today about your childhood Jasmine. You had really had help me understand about the child labor. And once again i appreciate you coming and sharing some information with me.