Child Labor Infographic

VOices of Victims

The Tragedy of Child Labor

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"Cuts and injuries are very common in this factory, but contractor normally never provide us any medical treatment. Normally we use urine and kerosene in case of cuts" - 13 year old Mohit who works in a garment factory

Child Labor Violations US

Statistics

Sometimes we don't understand how severe a problem is until it's quanitified. These statistics are from the US Dept. of Labor and the Austin Chronicle.

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"You get very tired when you work so much," he said, showing scars he still has from his machete injuries. "Every day I would wake at six o'clock and go straight to the cocoa farm" - 15 year old Dera in a BBC interview

100+

45%

12+

Over the past 5 years, according to the US Department of Labor, the number of child labor violations has been on the rise and lawmakers are wanting to lax regulations despite this.

Kids working in meatpacking factories

Kids working in leading cocoa production countries

Age of kids working overnight in factories

How Austin

What can we do?

While Austin may not be asscoiated with child labor, we still experience it with workers on farms, factories, and overworked commercially. We also contribute to fast fashion which directly contributes to the growth of child labor given our consumerism for these products. We as Austinites must combat this issue and be a beacon of progress for the world like we always have been.

It's essential to make informed choices as consumers. When we purchase products like chocolate or fast fashion clothing, we might unknowingly contribute to the exploitation of children through child labor. To truly combat this issue, we must advocate for stricter regulations. By demanding rigorous enforcement of child labor laws, we can ensure that businesses uphold ethical standards and prioritize the well-being of our youngest generation. Let's choose products that reflect our values and actively work towards a world where children are protected, educated, and free from exploitation.