SWA #20

Exploratory essay outline

Jonathan Iwaskiw

3/21/12

English Section 111

I plan to delve into the world of child labor laws in Southeast Asia.  Child labor can serve many purposes. It has both negative and positive aspects. It is hotly debated around the world and Southeast Asia is a hotbed for corporations that occupy and take advantage of the workforce.

Thesis: Although there are differing opinions on child labor laws ranging including from those of corporations, humanitarian groups, impartial scholars, and the children themselves, the main consensus is that these regulations must be changed for the common benefit of all parties.

4 points of view.

1.      Corporations

a.      Most do not care about the workforce as long as there is productivity.

b.      They support it because they can pay cheaper wages thus making them more profitable

c.       They have fought government legislation to abolish some of the laws.

d.      Causing a drastic change in workers’ rights and standards would stunt economic growth and would make their corporation uncompetitive.

2.      The labor

a.      Most children do not realize they are being taken advantage of making them indifferent.

b.      It is hard for children’s voices to be heard because of a variety of reasons.

c.       Most of the children need a job to make some sort of money to support their families, so they keep content.

d.      Because of the lack of labor unions, many workers do not have any sort of outlet to complain about their current conditions.

3.      Humanitarian groups

a.      Most of these groups find child labor unethical.

b.      They believe that it should stop indefinitely.

c.       They find many of the conditions to be inhumane and reminiscent to prisons.

d.      They call for wage increase and safer working conditions through donation and lobbying to foreign Governments and corporations.

e.      Opposite view of Corporations

4.      Politicians and Economists

a.      They have an academic viewpoint and are most educated on the subject.

b.      They see that while child labor is unethical, it serves a variety of purposes. Therefore, it can’t be abolished altogether at once.

c.       They think that improvements can be made to increase productivity while strengthening regulations.

d.      These individuals have a greater share of influence than all groups besides corporations.

e.      Many of the opinions come from a variety of sources rather than one clear group of people

My view is in line with that of the Politicians and Economists. One cannot evaluate the situation without proper information and education.  Lack of education is the reason why many children are taken advantage of in the first place. I firmly believe that many changes can be made that are both practical and ethical that will benefit all parties involved.