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Could child labor ever be acceptable if it's done consentually? (monyet.cc)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by DragonWasabi@monyet.cc to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

73 comments fedilink hide all child comments

While child labor is viewed negatively, apparently child labor and child slavery aren't the same thing, and child labor though it could still be exploitative/cruel in other ways, can be done voluntarily by the child, and with fair treatment/compensation/etc.

I suppose you could make the argument that any child labor opens itself up to problems, but could it be done responsibly? And if not, then at what age do we draw the line of labor being not ok regardless of consent?

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[–] OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Consent aside, it will never be acceptable in a place where there's free education, since educating a child is almost guaranteed to increase their quality of life and production in society

[–] DragonWasabi@monyet.cc -5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

What if they worked outside of school hours/while still maintaining their education? Depending on the job, it could help start their career and benefit them that way as well.

[–] 520@kbin.social 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It will still impact their education. They'll be too tired to focus at school.

[–] DragonWasabi@monyet.cc -5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

I guess education might be worth prioritizing over making an early start on their career, but I don't know, I could see a career move potentially even being more important if it's a good opportunity.

[–] 520@kbin.social 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The kinds of jobs you get even as a teenager are not growth careers. They don't get these 'good opportunities' that you speak of.

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 1 points 1 year ago

Exactly the jobs you'd offer a teenager are not careers, but if you're exploiting children you'd want to think they're careers. A low laying fast food job can seem like a career if you dangle a meaningless promotion in front of them

[–] prole@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

What kind of work do you think these kids are doing? Like are you picturing a 12 year old getting a leg-up on their adult "competition" because they started their career as a literal child?

[–] notasandwich1948@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

give some examples of such careers

[–] pjhenry1216@kbin.social 10 points 1 year ago

No career can be started by a child. None that would be worthwhile to get a head start in.

[–] prole@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

Let children be children.

At least in the US, we don't need child labor. We can get by just fine without it. So there is no reason.