Cause of Child Labor

There are many reasons that cause child labor but one of the important reasons is poverty.  Poverty plays big role in child labor.  Parents force their children into work because of many reasons and they even know it is wrong.  Some of the reasons parents make their children to do work is, lack of food, no shelter, and no clothes.   Poor families don’t have enough money to give their children education.  Since children don’t get education, they end up working and make themselves useful to the family. Some parents believe that more children they have; there are more chances of their survival. Even though children don’t get pay a lot but they have big contribution in family income. 

The other reason that causes child labor is uneducated parents.  Uneducated parents don’t know the importance of schooling.  Education helps develop the mind and personality of a child but these parents are unaware of this.  They are unaware because they haven’t been to school and never got education.  Some parents think that their children can make their future by working not instead of getting education.  But there are other parents who want to educate their children but they don’t have enough money to give them education.  So they drop out their children from school and those children end up working.  In India largest population of juvenile end up working because 82 million children are not in school.  (Weiner, 1991) School gives guidance to the children and makes them realize what they are capable of.  School guide children into the right direction and also help them realize the importance of them in this society.

In India there is high percentage of girls being dropped out of school because they have to cook, clean and take care of the siblings.  Girls that dropped out of school are from grade 4^th and 5^th. (Nita, 2007) They are not allowed to get education but instead they are used for house stuff.  Both of the parents go out to work and girls have to take care of the house. 

The other reason for child labor is that children want to go to school but they don’t have enough money to pay for their education.  These children came from poor family background.  These families cannot afford education.  To get education, these children work and go to school at the same time.  They want to get education and reach their goals. They know without education they can’t fulfill their wishes.

Siddiqi, Faraaz. “Child Labor: Issues, Causes and Interventions”, Retrieved March 15^th, 2011.  http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1099079877269/547664-1099079934475/547667-1135281552767/Child_Labor_issues.pdf

Nita. (2007), “The Root Cause of Child Labor isn’t just poverty”, Retrieved March 15^th, 2011. http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2007/11/15/root-cause-of-child-labour-is-not-just-poverty/