Labor exploitation is present throughout the world and is a very important issue for countries, society, companies and the government. Knowing that currently it is a big problem due to the large number of people who are being exploited by national, transnational and multinational companies, among others. Labor exploitation is divided into two categories which are; Child Exploitation and Adult Exploitation. We will focus on child exploitation in Mexico, where we will collect very important data from different sources.
Background.
To start talking about our topic we must be clear about several concepts, so we will define some below .
What is labor exploitation: implies that the victims are reduced or kept in slavery or servitude, under any modality, or they will be forced to perform forced labor or services. (Head of the Cabinet of Ministers Presence of the Nation, 2017).- To advance our subject we have to notice the difference between labor exploitation and child labor exploitation, which is why I chose this appointment that seems very specific to me.
Childhood: time that elapses between birth and adulthood, refers to the state and condition of a child's life (Amnesty International, 2017).- This data is important because we can become confused with the stages of childhood.
Next we will finally define what child exploitation is: It refers to any work or activity that deprives children of their childhood. Indeed, these are activities that are detrimental to your physical and mental health, and therefore prevent their proper development. (Humanium, 2017)
Child Labor Exploitation in Mexico.
In Mexico, child labor exploitation is experienced day by day, which many children and young people suffer being victims of this situation, where they work in confined spaces, places in very bad conditions, under pressure, exposed to risks such as working with chemical products., gases, dangerous tools, mines, streets etc. where they work long hours and earn a minimum wage, among many other things.
Mexico has 2 million 475 thousand 989 children and adolescents from 5 to 17 years old who carry out some economic activity and 2 million 217 thousand 648 carry out non-permitted occupations, of which: 27% are carried out by girls and 73% by boys. (INEGI, 2017).-
With these figures we realize two things, the first is that there are a large number of children who work, the second is that the majority of the male sex is the most exploited at work.
It is very sad to see and know that many of them have to put aside a very important stage of their life that is childhood, in order to generate income.
Child labor reasons: INEGI. Child Labor Module (MTI)
There are many reasons why our Mexican and third world children begin to carry out economic activities, the main one being poverty which has caused the increase of this situation in Mexico. In the graph above you can see some reasons that make children and young people work.
As Pedro Orraca says. " The labor supply of children and adolescents is determined based on the economic and demographic characteristics of the home. These include the age, gender, and educational level of its members, the number of siblings living in the home, and the costs and returns of different uses of time. (Orraca, 2014)
An important fact is that, in developing countries, a minimum age is required to be able to work, which in our country is 15 years. As stated in Article 123 section A, of our Mexican Constitution ”The use of the work of minors under fifteen years of age is prohibited. Those over this age and under sixteen will have a maximum working day of six hours ”(Official Gazette of the Federation, 2017). - It is really shocking to know that there is a law that protects our children and the government does not act correctly. against companies and people who do not comply with it.
The boys, girls and adolescents who are exploited in the workplace are distributed throughout the Mexican Republic, reflecting this by UNICEF.
Approximately 24% of workers between 5 and 17 years old are in three states of the Mexican Republic, which are; the State of Mexico, Jalisco and Puebla. 52.8% is distributed in a quarter of the States: in addition to the previous ones, Michoacán, Veracruz, Guerrero, Chiapas and Guanajuato. 23.8% of the boys and girls in Mexico between 5 and 13 years old who work reside in Puebla, Jalisco or Guerrero. 52.6% is distributed in these States and Michoacán, Oaxaca, Mexico State, Guanajuato and Veracruz. (UNICEF MEXICO, 2007).- Looking at the number of children and the distribution that exists in the republic, we realize that the majority of minors who work and are exploited are found in some places, mostly poor.
It is unfortunate to know that in Mexico children who work in the primary and secondary sectors have to be classified as workers, leaving aside other young people and children who work on the streets, such as fire eaters, windshield wipers, in the transportation, car caretakers etc. This is what Unicef marks it.
"In Mexico, children who have carried out some primary and secondary economic activities are classified as workers" (UNICEF MEXICO, 2007)
conclusion
Knowing that young people and children have to stop studying in order to work and generate money to be able to support their families is a devastating feeling, which shows the disinterest that our government has in complying with and enforcing the laws in the face of the exploitation suffered by our Mexican children and youth: The government should create programs that support children and youth who work anywhere, be it on the streets, in mines, ranches, rivers, etc. Without being classified and enforcing their rights as stipulated in the laws.
References
- Official Journal of the Federation. (04 of 04 of 2017). Political Constitution of the United Mexican States. Obtained from the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States: http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/1_240217.pdf Amnesty International. (04 of 04 of 2017). Obtained from Amnesty International: http://www.amnistiacatalunya.org/edu/2/nin/inf-unicef.html Humanium. (04 of 04 of 2017). Obtained from Humanium: http://www.humanium.org/es/trabajo-infantil/INEGI. (04 of 04 of 2017). Tell me Population. Obtained from Cuéntame Population: http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/poblacion/ninos.aspx?tema=P Head of Cabinet of Ministers Presence of the Nation. (04 of 04 of 2017). Committee against trafficking. Obtained from the Anti-Trafficking Committee: http://www.comitecontralatrata.gob.ar/explotacion-laboral_p216Orraca, P. (January 31, 2014).Child labor in Mexico and its causes. Obtained from Child labor in Mexico and its causes: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0301-70362014000300006UNICEF MEXICO. (2007). UNICEF MEXICO. Retrieved on APRIL 05, 2017, from UNICEF MEXICO:
