Child labour occurs in many third world countries, causing numerous negative effects.
The number of children involved in child labour in today's society is an incredible shock. This
trend is beginning to result in more and more fatal consequences. "Out of a total of 3.67 million
economically involved children in Europe, over 60% of them are exposed to hazardous working
conditions" (Linden 20). There are several reasons why child labour exists in today's society
and more specifically, in developing countries across the world. Enter a world of horror and
despair, and realize the nightmare that never seems to end for millions of children that are
enduring the challenge of child labour.
Child labour is a major challenge in today's society. It is a complex issue with no simple
solutions. Child labour is massive in population, corrosive to society, fatal in its consequences,
cruel to children and damaging to human dignity. The number of children that are suffering
from child labour is disturbing. According to Linden, "the number of working children between
the ages of 5 and 14 years in developing countries is estimated to be over 250 million, and 32%
of this number are in Africa-this is very alarming" (3). These millions of cruelly treated children
are exposed to numerous negative effects.
Everyone has the right to a safe work place, but working children are not being
treated with this sort of respect. The small children are being forced into such agonizing
activities as lifting huge quantities that are almost equal to their body weight. "When children
are forced to lift heavy weights their bones may be permanently damaged because it is too much
stress on their underdeveloped bodies" (Springer 77). The children's respiratory system also
undergoes a lot of detriment. "Because the children are short, and close to the che
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