A Contextualist Approach to Child Labor - Timothy Ivins

A CONTEXTUALIST APPROACH TO CHILD LABOUR TIMOTHY IVINS * The role of child labour has seen increased coverage in Western society in recent times. This media exposure has resulted in a drive for many multinational companies to implement universalist human... More

A CONTEXTUALIST APPROACH TO CHILD LABOUR TIMOTHY IVINS * The role of child labour has seen increased coverage in Western society in recent times. This media exposure has resulted in a drive for many multinational companies to implement universalist human resource policies regarding the use of child labour in their supply chain. This essay argues for the consideration of the needs of other stakeholders, namely child labourers in developing countries themselves, and therefore recommends a contextualist approach to the issue, outlining circumstances where the use of child labour is acceptable for multinational corporations. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that in the global economy 211 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 work. 1 This stands in stark contrast to the belief of many Westerners that child labour is an abomination, much of which interrupts the physical and mental development of children. 2 Given the influence that pressure groups and consumer Less