While child labor is viewed negatively, apparently child labor and child slavery aren’t the same thing, and child labor though it could still be exploitative/cruel in other ways, can be done voluntarily by the child, and with fair treatment/compensation/etc.

I suppose you could make the argument that any child labor opens itself up to problems, but could it be done responsibly? And if not, then at what age do we draw the line of labor being not ok regardless of consent?

  • @[email protected]OP
    link
    fedilink
    -81 year ago

    I was wondering if the cobalt mined for smartphones could be done ethically, even if they still needed to use children for it. What if the children clearly consent to working and are treated well in good conditions and paid fairly?

    • federalreverse-old
      link
      fedilink
      121 year ago

      What…? No. Definitely not.

      Having children perform manual labor in a mine is not going to be ethical at any point.

    • BrokebackHampton
      link
      fedilink
      81 year ago

      Literally advocating for XIX century-style Dickensian child labor.
      Yeah Imma go with troll as well

    • spitz
      link
      fedilink
      71 year ago

      Well, that doesn’t work for sexual consent, and I guess it would be similar regarding this issue. Informed consent requires the person to be of such an age that their consent is valid. I’m no expert, that was just my initial thought.

    • pjhenry1216
      link
      fedilink
      31 year ago

      Ok, this has to be trolling now. This is the career you want them in a headstart in? A dangerous job? All mining has health implications.

    • NegativeLookBehind
      link
      fedilink
      21 year ago

      Great point OP. Really makes you wonder why we don’t have more kindergartners working the oil rigs, or fighting as mercenaries in the Middle East.