Child labor today is currently defined as any work
which exploits children or keeps them from attending
school. Poverty in many countries motivates child
labor, often in hazardous environments and for low
wages. In some countries children are conscripted and
forced to join military units. Employers frequently
prefer child laborers since they are energetic and
rarely protest poor treatment.
While child labor has been largely eradicated in
the United States, American companies now conduct
a growing share of their business overseas. Clothing
firms in particular now manufacture the vast majority
of their products in other countries, many of which
provide little legal protection for employees. In the
1990’s several large companies came under fire for
allegedly contracting with factories employing children. Nike Apparel was one of the targeted firms, and
in 1998 the company ordered all its contract manufacturers to set a minimum age of sixteen for workers;
companies violating this policy are required to remove
the underage workers, continue paying their wages,
place them in school, and rehire them when they are
old enough. Critics of Nike’s policies accuse them of
covering up violations in their factories.