DragonWasabiAug 31, 2023

Could child labor ever be acceptable if it's done consentually?

https://monyet.cc/post/506496

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

Apparently child labor and child slavery aren’t the same thing, and child labour, though it could still be exploitative/cruel in other ways, can be done voluntarily by the child. 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 at what age do we draw the line of labor being not ok regardless of consent?

Show threadrufus

Labor: No. Consent doesn’t matter.

Doing jobs / working as a kid is perfectly alright if it contributes to their education, teaches them skills for life or helps them learn how to become an independent individual. But within limits. They also need time to grow, have fun and go to school.

Other than that, children will consensually work if the alternative is seeing their little sister starve. Help contribute to the family income or skip school. Under a certain age, children are regarded as not very wise, unable to consent and easily manipulable. For example by cruel or stupid parents.

That is why it needs to be banned to a certain (and arguable) age. Instead, the state/society needs to provide for poor children, and protect them. Sometimes even from their parents and themselves. Until they’re grown enough to make their own decisions.

Aug 31, 2023 at 10:42amWeb
Show threadAntimuttAug 31, 2023
If the money involved is enough to ensure they are not poor and legal protections exist, should there still be such a ban?
California Child Actor's Bill - Wikipedia

Show threadWeirdGoesProAug 31, 2023

Adults paid minimum wage without other sources of income are poor. What you’re implying is a system that pays children a living wage that is above the current minimum wage. What employer is going to pay someone more than minimum when they are a child who will have major limitations and liabilities as an employee, when they could potentially pay a full grown adult to do more work with less liability for less pay?

The only reality where that happens is when it is a job that a child can do more easily than a full sized adult, and that is exactly the kind of work that made child labor illegal in the first place—those little hands can sure reach deep into those factory machines, can’t they?

Show threadrufusAug 31, 2023
If these protections work 100% and the kids are for sure not being manipulated and it doesn’t take away from their education… And we’re sure they don’t ‘not know better’. I’m not sure if we need that ban.
Show threadproleAug 31, 2023

Other than that, children will consensually work if the alternative is seeing their little sister starve

I’m not sure I would call that “consent.” It’s coercion.

Show threadrufusAug 31, 2023
It’s kind of a slippery slope altogether.