- While most other countires are trying to abolish Child Labor, Bolivia has legalized it saying that:
- There is no alternative in a country where half the population is poor:
- Lowering minimum work age from 14 to 10 acknowledges a reality and also guarantees the labour security of children.
- Abolishing it would eliminate people’s social conscience as most of the poor families have no other option that to make ends meet.
- Accordingly:
- 10 yr olds will be able to work provided they are under parental supervision and are attending school.
- For contractual labor, minimum age has been set as 12 and the child is required to attend school.
- Critics believe that while this may serve as a short term solution for its economic crisis, it actually stands to be the root cause of poverty.
- Read at:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/bolivia-legalises-child-labour/article6226901.ece