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Bolivia congress allows child labor from age 10

Sounds like a good organization.

It's a government program.

They pay for school, medical visits, uniforms and books for kids and to a lesser extent medical visits by adults.
 
.....than working their little fingers to the bone, literally until their small bodies are twisted and sick and coughing themselves to convulsion.

Neither of those is good, but yes.
 
In Bolivia entry into the workforce has been reduced to 10 years of age. The measure is to reduce poverty in the country.
Must we ban imports from the country?

Bolivia congress allows child labor from age 10

We should just have a general rule that companies and facilities we import from keep to US level environmental, safety, and other basic standards.
 
We should just have a general rule that companies and facilities we import from keep to US level environmental, safety, and other basic standards.

I don't think that works with the trade treaties we have in place.
 
I don't think that works with the trade treaties we have in place.

I know. and if I were king for a day, I would get rid of those treaties and constitute this instead. We are big enough economy that we can get other countries to play ball as many of them depend on exports for their livelihood.
 
I know. and if I were king for a day, I would get rid of those treaties and constitute this instead. We are big enough economy that we can get other countries to play ball as many of them depend on exports for their livelihood.

One of the reasons the US is relatively rich is its openness and free trade.
 
Originally the Bolivian government didnt want young children working legally, but they continually work in coal mines and there is even a child labor union that was protesting for the right to work and consequently collect unemployment. It was the children themselvesl that wanted to work legally rather than be exploited; otherwise, it would be the same as in the USA when illegal immigrants work for extremely low wages or even no wages such as in the tomato slaves in Florida. If its illegal, then the worker, even an adult, becomes exploited.

Your tomato tied to slavery
 
Originally the Bolivian government didnt want young children working legally, but they continually work in coal mines and there is even a child labor union that was protesting for the right to work and consequently collect unemployment. It was the children themselvesl that wanted to work legally rather than be exploited; otherwise, it would be the same as in the USA when illegal immigrants work for extremely low wages or even no wages such as in the tomato slaves in Florida. If its illegal, then the worker, even an adult, becomes exploited.

Your tomato tied to slavery

So, basically, I'm getting...

"Legal and regulated is better than illegal and unregulated".

From your post.
 
So, basically, I'm getting...

"Legal and regulated is better than illegal and unregulated".

From your post.

I am not making a judgement on what is better. I am merely stating what I believe the logic behind the lowering of the working age could be in according to my own research and watching documentaries about child workers in Bolivia. Whether or not it would be more logical to pay for the children to go to school instead is up in the air. It may not be possible under the Bolivian government currently. Certainly prior to Evo Morales the USA and other privatizers of water and resources, etc, were not helping the children out either. In fact I think that after Thatcher killed the coal mines in the UK, I believe she outsourced coal to latin America to child labor. Well, Europeans often outsource to child labor, Most of their cotton comes from Uzbekistan it seems, which is all picked by child slave labor.

I want to say the Bolivian government is doing the best it can under the circumstances to balance ideology with real life problems.
 
I know people that started working on family farms as soon as they could walk. As long as they are not beaten or forced. I dont see an issue with it. Will make better adults out of them.
 
This is what happens when the U.S. (and other developed nations) outsource all of their labor to poor nations. The purpose of this is not to allow child labor, which, as Michijo said, is already occurring illegally in Bolivia, but to grant labor rights to the children. In a nation whose economy depends on its exports, banning child labor isn't going to be anymore effective at eliminating it than banning prostitution is here.

But anyone who seriously wants to allow and encourage children working in coal mines (which many people in this thread have expressed sympathy for) are truly deluded.
 
This is what happens when the U.S. (and other developed nations) outsource all of their labor to poor nations. The purpose of this is not to allow child labor, which, as Michijo said, is already occurring illegally in Bolivia, but to grant labor rights to the children. In a nation whose economy depends on its exports, banning child labor isn't going to be anymore effective at eliminating it than banning prostitution is here.

But anyone who seriously wants to allow and encourage children working in coal mines (which many people in this thread have expressed sympathy for) are truly deluded.

How are they deluded? (Please don't come back with how wrong they are, which I agree with you on, explain how they are deluded)
 
How are they deluded? (Please don't come back with how wrong they are, which I agree with you on, explain how they are deluded)

Because free choice in the area of child labor (i.e. if they are consenting to it it's okay) is an illusion. A ten year old is not going to have the capability to make an important life decision, and getting a job is an important life decision. The most likely decision a child is going to make is that if their family is suffering economically is to get a job at a young age.

In addition child labor in Bolivia is not working at your parent's store after school, or something mild to that effect. It's hard labor, as has been previously mentioned, such as working in coal mines, where children are in unsafe conditions and are going to be exposed to adverse health effects. In a nation such as Bolivia, criminalization of child labor is not going to solve the problem, but it certainly should not be encouraged.

And forgive me, but are being 'wrong' about a certain issue and being 'deluded' about a certain issue not synonymous in some cases?
 
Because free choice in the area of child labor (i.e. if they are consenting to it it's okay) is an illusion. A ten year old is not going to have the capability to make an important life decision, and getting a job is an important life decision. The most likely decision a child is going to make is that if their family is suffering economically is to get a job at a young age.

In addition child labor in Bolivia is not working at your parent's store after school, or something mild to that effect. It's hard labor, as has been previously mentioned, such as working in coal mines, where children are in unsafe conditions and are going to be exposed to adverse health effects. In a nation such as Bolivia, criminalization of child labor is not going to solve the problem, but it certainly should not be encouraged.

And forgive me, but are being 'wrong' about a certain issue and being 'deluded' about a certain issue not synonymous in some cases?

And how is the choice unfree?

I agree they should not be doing hard labor.

When dealing with concrete facts that is true, but not when dealing with prudential matters (note that prudential does not mean every answer is right, only that it is not a matter of moral absolutes).
 
And how is the choice unfree?

I agree they should not be doing hard labor.

When dealing with concrete facts that is true, but not when dealing with prudential matters (note that prudential does not mean every answer is right, only that it is not a matter of moral absolutes).

The choice is not "free" because children are not experienced enough to understand the consequences of their actions. You might as well grant ten year olds the right to vote. They have no idea what the consequences of their actions are.

I'm aware that there is no right answer per se in many issues, but can I not hold the opinion that someone else's opinion is deluded?
 
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