Child Labor: Then & Now

Legal Definition of CHILD:

• Any person under the age of 18

• A dependent; not able to support oneself

• A minor• ALL OF YOU!

Statistics: THEN & Now

• Children as young as SIX years old worked in the factories (primarily textiles)

• Worked long hours for little to no pay

Statistics: THEN & Now

• Worked up to 19 hours per day

• Received a one hour break (TOTAL)

Statistics: THEN & Now

• Both male & female children worked in the factories

• All were subject to beatings & other harsh forms of discipline

Statistics: THEN & Now

• Punishment for tardiness?• Being “weighted”• Forced to carry a heavy weight around one’s neck; up to an hour

Statistics: THEN & Now

• Accidents were VERY common among child laborers

• Loss of limbs, etc.

Statistics: THEN & Now• Factory Acts of 1819:

–Children from 9-16 were limited to a 12 hour day.

• Factory Acts of 1833:–Children under 9 were banned from

all textile mills.–Children under 18 no longer worked

at night–Provided safety inspections

Statistics: THEN & Now• Mine Acts

–Children and women were no longer allowed to work in the coal mines

Statistics: Then & NOW

• There are approximately 246 million child laborers in today’s world

• And you thought school was bad…

Statistics: Then & NOW

• 73 million working children are less than 10 years old

• What were you doing when you were 10 years old?

Statistics: Then & NOW

• Every year 22,000 children die in work-related accidents

Statistics: Then & NOW

• The largest percentage of working children are found in the Asia/Pacific

• Approximately 127 million

Statistics: Then & NOW

• Worldwide, there are approximately 8.4 million children are trapped in slavery, trafficking, debt bondage, prostitution & pornography