In many parts of the world child labor is still a grave and extensive problem.A tourist in the old part of town can wander in the maze of narrow, cobblestone lanes that form the spine of the city and stumble across some shocking sights if doors are open and you can peek inside. Usually though, the doors are closed. Behind them could be children polishing gemstones and beads or weaving carpets in a dark and dingy room.
Like in any major city, in the poorest market areas you'll find rows of old buildings, some half demolished, providing space for illicit sweatshops and who knows what else!
Last week, The Observer reported that children are laboring in Indian refugee camps to produce garments for huge fashion store Primark. Illicit child labor is nothing new. Wherever you have extreme poverty you'll find the exploitation of child labor. The government of India reports that there are about 20 million children laborers; NGOs estimate more than double the official number.
Many visitors to Turkey comment on the children in the street working at traffic lights or in parks.
Across the Middle East and Asia you will find children illegally working. Many work in glass-blowing, fireworks and, most commonly, textile and carpet-making factories. It is common knowledge that factories pay children extremely low wages for which adults refuse to work. Often, the children slave under perilous and unhygienic labor conditions. Poverty drives individuals to do things that they may not usually do. For example, in the northern region of India many children are forced to become migrant workers, they are sent away by their families to earn an income sent directly home.
In many cities around the world children do not get to know what it means to be a "child."
Most, ill nourished, are working 12 hours a day in desperate situations with only small breaks for meals. The situation of the children at the factories is desperate.
A Today's Zaman reader expressed her sadness when she saw Turkish children working on the street:
"Dear Charlotte,
It is my first time to travel overseas. I am not used to seeing beggars like those in Turkey. I struggled in my heart when I saw young children on the street walking up to cars to sell simits, gum, tissues or flowers. When I walked down the street I found it hard to say ‘no’ to kids who wanted to shine my shoes or tell me my weight. Is Turkey doing anything about child labor? How do you cope with it?" (From Sally, US)
Dear Sally. Yes, Turkey is taking steps to bring about the necessary change, but new labor standards and requirements take time to have effect. As you saw during your visit, often a large proportion of the children working in urban areas are doing unregistered jobs where they sell simit, gum, flowers, etc. This is hard for officials to control.
Turkish friends have advised not to give money or purchase from beggars. But these children working on the street aren't beggars, are they? It's all more complicated than it looks. The child receives only a small percent of what you pay them. It'd be good to hear what other Today's Zaman readers think. Sally, thanks for your comments!
As a result of the Primark situation, campaigners are now demanding that the UK government act to force companies to be responsible for the welfare of workers all the way down their tangled supply chains. There are no guarantees for foreign companies who subcontract out to other less developed or Third World countries. It is hard to regulate these supply chains long distance and outsiders are highly conspicuous.
Dan McDougall points out in The Observer report that it is, as he says, "an impossible task to track down all of these terrible sweatshops and factories employing children, particularly in the garment industry when you need little more than a basement or an attic crammed with children to make a healthy profit."
In some ways, times have not changed so much. During the Victorian years, Britain had serious child labor problems. Charles Dickens in real life as a child had to stick labels on jars of blacking (shoe polish) and the glue used to stick the labels on the jars was a health hazard and the conditions were appalling.
"Wherever there is massive demand and money to be made, children will be found on the production line." -- Dan McDougall
Please keep your questions and observations coming: I want to ensure this column is a help to you, Today’s Zaman ‘s readers.
Charlotte McPherson is the author of “Culture Smart: Turkey, 2005.” Email: c.mcpherson@todayszaman.com
