Why Do Fast Fashion Industries Use Child Labor?

The International Labor Organisation estimates that 260 million adolescents labor worldwide. The UN defines child labor as “work for which the child is either too young – work done below the required minimum age – or work which, because of its detrimental nature or conditions, is altogether considered unacceptable for children and is prohibited." the ILO estimates that 170 million of them are involved in child labor.

Despite being illegal in the vast majority of nations, child labor continues to be prevalent in a number of the world's poorest regions.

According to the International Labor Organization, approximately 170 million children are employed, many of them manufacturing textiles and clothing to fulfill the demand for consumers in the US, Europe, as well as other countries.

Conditions are gradually getting more capable. The ILO estimates, child labor decreased by 30% between 2000 and 2012, however, 11% of children internationally endure in circumstances that deny them the freedom to attend school without interruption from the workplace.

A race to the bottom has been triggered by fast fashion, forcing businesses to initiate searches for ever-cheaper labor resources.

"There are many girls in countries like India and Bangladesh who are willing to work for very low prices and are easily brought into these industries under false promises of earning decent wages," explains Sofie Ovaa, global campaign coordinator of Stop Child Labour."

According to a recent report by the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) and the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), employers in southern India convince parents of girls in underprivileged rural areas to provide them to spinning mills with the guarantee of a lucrative profession, decent housing, three wholesome meals a day, and chances for higher education and training in along with a one-time payment.

Considering a significant amount of the supply chain for clothing involves low-skilled labor and some professions are even more suitable for children than mature individuals, child labor is a particular issue.

Children are more straightforward to deal with since they are perceived as dutiful laborers who remain undetected.

They frequently receive less than the minimum wage, undergo extensive labor hours, and are exposed to pesticides.

The International Labor Organization estimates that 170 million children, or 11% of all children around the world, are working as children. Child labor is widespread in the yarn and spinning factories, which constitutes the next step in the supply chain.

Children also participate in the "cut-make-trim" phase, which particularly involves assembling garments.

Childrens are exposed to vulnerable conditions; nations should keep their eye on the companies which uses child labor and try to eliminate child labor in the near future.