Peer-reviewed article
A Study of Child Labour and Its Effect on Attitude of an Employer
Pinki Kumari Guest Faculty ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines how employers in India rationalize and justify hiring child laborers, despite the harm to children's well-being. Employers often view child labor as cost-effective because children are seen as obedient and willing to accept low wages. The research explores how cultural norms, economic pressures, and weak legal enforcement enable employers to continue exploiting children. Child labor perpetuates poverty and inequality across generations, yet short-term economic gains often outweigh employers' concern for long-term societal costs.
Key points
- Employers perceive child labor as cost-effective because children are viewed as more malleable, obedient, and willing to accept lower wages than adults
- Some employers rationalize child labor as helping impoverished families, though this is often driven by economic self-interest
- In regions where child labor is socially embedded, employers face little pressure to change practices because exploitation is normalized
- Child labor perpetuates generational poverty, hinders social mobility, and exacerbates inequality
- Employers' attitudes are shaped by broader societal and economic structures that prioritize short-term gains over long-term costs to children
Limitations
The document describes the study's focus and findings but does not provide details on methodology, sample size, data collection methods, or specific quantitative results. It is unclear whether this represents a complete study or a work in progress.
Abstract
The study also focuses on the attitudes of employers who hire child laborers, exploring how they rationalize or justify the use of child labor despite the negative consequences it has on the children’s well-being. Employers often perceive child labor as a cost effective solution to labor shortages, believing that children are more malleable, obedient, and willing to accept lower wages than adults. Some may even view the practice as a way of helping impoverished families, though this view is often shaped by economic self-interest rather than genuine concern for the children’s welfare. The research further investigates how employers’ attitudes are influenced by cultural norms, economic pressures, and legal frameworks. In regions where child labor is deeply embedded in the socio-economic fabric, employers may feel little pressure to change their practices, as the exploitation of children may be normalized or overlooked by local communities. The sociological implications of child labor are profound, as it not only affects the children involved but also contributes to the broader social and economic challenges facing societies. Child labor perpetuates generational poverty, hinders social mobility, and exacerbates inequality. The study suggests that employers’ attitudes towards child labor are often shaped by broader societal and economic structures, which may overlook the long-term costs of exploiting children in favor of short-term economic gains.