Bolivia, A Trend Setter???
The Bolivian Congress has passed a bill that will legalize Child Labor at age 10. It is awaiting the signature of left leaning President Evo Morales.
Legally this seems to be going backwards. Child Labor is something most countries are moving away from as a matter of official policy, but in some ways it is just acknowledging what is a normal practice. Lots of kids are working the streets and in some ways the condition of kids in South American cities is something out of Charles Dickens and Oliver Twist. In Bolivia approximately 15% of the labor market are children below the age of 14. GDP per person is about $1010.
The new law requires kids to be attending school and can't work under contract in sweat shops until they are 12. Kids must be with parents.
Obviously, Bolivia's child care programs don't meet the need of parents or children. I'm not really sure this will help Bolivia move towards more 21st Century Jobs, because I think this will also undercut education as well. It may actually increase non attendance at schools at an earlier age.
Living in Miami, lots of intersections are covered by hawkers and sign carrying beggars. The selling of flowers,water, chewing gum or balloons has lead to kids collecting money for youth sports teams in intersections.
Isn't this the slippery slope we want to avoid.
Legally this seems to be going backwards. Child Labor is something most countries are moving away from as a matter of official policy, but in some ways it is just acknowledging what is a normal practice. Lots of kids are working the streets and in some ways the condition of kids in South American cities is something out of Charles Dickens and Oliver Twist. In Bolivia approximately 15% of the labor market are children below the age of 14. GDP per person is about $1010.
The new law requires kids to be attending school and can't work under contract in sweat shops until they are 12. Kids must be with parents.
Obviously, Bolivia's child care programs don't meet the need of parents or children. I'm not really sure this will help Bolivia move towards more 21st Century Jobs, because I think this will also undercut education as well. It may actually increase non attendance at schools at an earlier age.
Living in Miami, lots of intersections are covered by hawkers and sign carrying beggars. The selling of flowers,water, chewing gum or balloons has lead to kids collecting money for youth sports teams in intersections.
Isn't this the slippery slope we want to avoid.
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