Indeed. This is the general line, even for the ILO (International Labor
Organization), who sees that ending child labour and slavery, which,
incidentally, is on the increase, is problematic because, for many
third-world families, this is the only way they can survive. Overt use of
the cultural relativist argument is being used to support the case for child
labour, and even for female circumcision, the details of which are
absolutely abominable. Of course, Labor is severely under-represented on the
ILO , the largest contingent of which is 'employers' groups', whoever they
may be.
:
For those interested in the issue, try http://www.ilo.org/ and look for the
97-98 world report. I have a .pdf copy that I think I can distribute legally.
One charming practice in south-east asia and africa is that 'employment
agents' are buying children before they are born for sale into soccer ball
and sports shoe factories and the like. For further info see J.R Saul, The
Unconscious Civilization (1997), and John Pilger (1998) Hidden Agendas. We
may have an "information economy" here in the comfortable west. But the
economy is supported by _billions_ of working poor.
The richest 358 persons on earth now own more than the poorest 2.3 billion
people ... Bill Gates owns more thatn the lowest paid 50% of people in the US.
There is enormous amounts of mostly depressing data to support my claims,
I'm sorry to say.
Phil
Phil Graham
Queensland University of Technology
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/8314/