This report tries to evaluate the question whether there is a linkage between globalisation and child labour in developing and industrialised countries. It takes India and Germany as examples and analyses their situation due to this issue.
Globalisation is a process enforced by companies. Therefore, child labour is defined by the ILO as the exploitation by companies. In this context it is not in its worst form of slavery, prostitution or as soldier in an armed conflict.
This report shows that society in India accepts child labour, whereas Germans prohibit it. Historically, Germany’s laws regarding child labour were initiated in the 19th century, a time of industrialisation. Laws protecting children in India were set in place approx. 100 years later.
Economically, both countries differ as well. Germany is a service economy. But India is changing. The majority is occupied in the agricultural sector. But most of the GDP is generated by the service sector.
Historically, child labour in Germany took place in the 19th century during the industrialisation. There, we have seen that child labour occurred together with two factors, poverty and productivity. Industrialisation reduces the traditional fields of occupation and results in poverty. People are forced to let their children work. Machines make children as unskilled workers possible. Only if machines become more complex, educated workers are necessary. The more complex they get, the more productive they will be. Only then, children are not productive if not educated.
This event can be applied to India’s recent situation. It changes from an agricultural to a service economy. It skips industrialisation. Technology shoots India to another level, but leaves the under-educated population in poverty.
In globalisation, capital flows faster to the places best in use. Unsophisticated goods are produced where the price is lowest. Indians generate a GDP per capita of USD 2,700 per year. In Germany it is USD 34,200. On the other hand 80% of all Indians live on USD/day 2 or less. In Germany the welfare grants a minimum of USD/day 16. Capital flows to India as its labour is cheap. The people need the jobs to survive.
The process of globalisation cannot be directly blamed to result in child labour. But it enforces poverty. Child labour is a symptom of sincere poverty. Finally, we can say that there is a link between globalisation and child labour.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Discussion
2.1 Definition: Child labour
2.2 Definition: Globalisation
2.3 Comparing developing and industrialised countries
2.3.1 Short facts about India and Germany
2.3.2 ILO’s convention no. 138
2.3.3 Perception of child labour in society
2.3.4 Laws and their execution
2.4.1 School attendance
2.4.2 Drop-outs
2.5.1 Structural change and the state of economy
2.5.2 Digression to historical developments in Germany
2.5.3 Deriving historical insights to present changes
2.6.1 Value of the individual’s work force
2.6.2 Distribution of income
2.6.3 Poverty and workforce
2.7 Globalisations impact on child labour
3. Conclusions
4. Recommendations
Objectives and Themes
This report evaluates whether a causal link exists between globalisation and child labour in developing and industrialised nations, utilizing India and Germany as comparative case studies to analyze the impact of structural economic changes on child exploitation.
- Comparative analysis of child labour laws in India and Germany.
- Evaluation of education systems and school attendance as mitigating factors.
- Economic impact of globalisation and structural change on poverty levels.
- The relationship between industrialization, service economy transition, and child exploitation.
- Historical context of child labour and its transition in developed economies.
Excerpt from the Book
2.5.2 Digression to historical developments in Germany
As heard before, the German law on prohibiting child labour had different reasons and changes. To understand them, we might be able to derive a future development of India as they make large progress with respect to structural change.
Children in Germany were increasingly exploited at the beginning of the 19th century. This was because of two reasons. Firstly, industrialisation reduced the labour in the traditional fields of occupation. That resulted in a mass poverty and the need for children to support their families. Parents depended on their children going to work. The second reason is more practical. Because of machines muscle force was not necessary anymore. Repeating labours did not need a high education. As factory children’s salaries were about 10% of the wages of a skilled factory worker, they were a highly competitive resource (Dörr, 2004).
Germany’s laws for child labour were necessary, as not only a shortage of soldiers was threatening. The industrialisation forced people not only to be more productive but as well be more educated. Once the machines were more productive than children their competitive advantage of cheap labour vanished. But machines needed skilled personnel. Finally, there was a need of educated personnel (Stuke, 1960).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research question regarding the link between child labour and globalisation, setting the framework for a comparative study between India and Germany.
2. Discussion: Examines indicators like legal frameworks, education, and economic structures to identify the real causes behind child exploitation in the chosen countries.
3. Conclusions: Confirms a causal relation between globalisation-induced structural changes and child labour, emphasizing that poverty forces families to rely on child work when education is not effectively facilitated.
4. Recommendations: Suggests that the Indian government must implement a definitive legal prohibition of child labour combined with improved educational infrastructure to help the population keep pace with structural changes.
Keywords
Globalisation, Child labour, India, Germany, Poverty, Structural change, Education, ILO, Industrialisation, Service economy, Labour force, Economic development, Child protection, Workforce, Capital flow
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper evaluates whether a linkage exists between the phenomenon of globalisation and the incidence of child labour in both developing and industrialised countries.
Which countries are used as primary examples for the analysis?
The study uses India as a representative for developing/emerging economies and Germany as a representative for industrialised, advanced economies.
What is the primary conclusion regarding globalisation and child labour?
The author concludes that while globalisation is not the direct source of child labour, it significantly enforces poverty and structural problems, which in turn leads to the exploitation of children.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a comparative approach, examining laws, socio-economic indicators (GDP, sector employment, poverty rates), and historical industrial development parallels between India and Germany.
What is the role of education in the context of this paper?
Education is identified as an essential prerequisite for economic success; the lack of it, combined with poverty, is presented as the primary driver that keeps children in the workforce rather than in schools.
Which key terminology defines the work?
Key terms include structural change, industrialisation, child labour, poverty, and global economic integration.
How does the situation in India currently differ from Germany's historical development?
India is skipping the traditional, prolonged industrialisation phase and moving directly towards a service-based economy, which leaves the under-educated population vulnerable as they struggle to adapt to higher skill requirements.
Why does the author argue that laws alone are insufficient?
The author notes that having laws is one aspect, but the execution and enforcement—specifically the provision of schools and teachers—are critical failures that prevent the protection of children in India.
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- Dipl.Kfm. (FH), BCom (Curtin University), MA Daniel Markus Jueterbock (Autor:in), 2008, Exists a linkage between the exploitation of children, as a source of labour, and globalisation in both developing and industrialised countries?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/192963
