Child labor in Guatemala

Child labor is very much a big aspect of the Guatemalan labor force.  National law provides an exception to its ban on working minors, provided they perform "light work" and have the permission of their parent or guardian as well as the Child Protection Unit of the Ministry of Labor.
That Ministry pledged in 2008 not to award any work permits to children under 14 years and has confirmed  this policy remains in place.[1]  Most of this work however is far from 'light work' and as it shows in the video these children are exposed to very dangerous working conditions and even potentially harmful disinfectants.   

Guatemala has the worst child labor figures in the continent. According to the 2006 Survey of Living Conditions, the latest available official data, 528,000 children between the ages of five and 14 work in Guatemala.[1] However the reality is grim, these children need to work so their families can have enough money.  This usually results in the children not being able to attend school either.  The 'minimum wage' for agricultural workers is a little over 7.50 US dollars (68 Quetzals) per day.  

Many of these corporations are aware of the child labor laws but turn a blind eye to it in the name of profit.  Though it isn't always corporations who are guilty of this,  "also noted [is] the continuing trend to subcontract garment sewing in small shops and homes in Guatemala. This practice, which is commonly found in Latin America, allows a factory to boost its production while turning a blind eye to child workers who are employed by these sub-contractors or who assist their mothers working out of their homes."[2]

Often times it is absolutely necessary for these children to also be working.  Since schooling is too expensive children help out there parents in order to put food on the table.  So where do we draw the line?  Some of the sugar plantation workers threatened to burn the plantation down when laws were passed saying they couldnt bring their children in any longer.  From the parents perspective that may mean the difference of 20 Quetzal per day, with the same number of mouths to feed.  Without child labor these folks have less money, but with child labor they can provide for their families.  It is a huge moral dilemma to think that child labor could actually benefit these people more than it could hurt them.



1.http://www.plazapublica.com.gt/content/child-labor-and-exploitation-guatemalan-sugar-industry 
2.http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/sweat/guatemala.htm