Labor Group Says Roots of China's Child Labor Problem Lie in Education System

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-09-09-voa9.cfm

By Claudia Blume
Hong Kong
09 September 2007

A Hong Kong labor rights organization says child labor in China is a widespread, systemic and increasingly serious problem. The group says the cause of the problem lies in the failures of China's education system. Claudia Blume reports from Hong Kong.


Chinese migrant girl collects old cardboards and other recyclable items beside a dust bin on Tiananmen Square


When news of the brickyard slavery scandal in China's Shanxi province broke in June, the Chinese public was shocked to hear that some of the laborers forced to work in inhuman conditions were children.

But in Hong Kong, the China Labor Bulletin group, which conducted field research in China, says child labor is widespread in the country and is becoming an increasingly serious problem.

There are no official data revealing how many children are working in China. There are strict laws against hiring children under 16 and Beijing this week announced it will set up a ministry-level panel to combat human trafficking - aimed at protecting women and children from forced labor and prostitution.

But Han Dongfang, founder of the China Labor Bulletin, says laws often are ignored in provinces and towns - mainly because of a lack of staff.

FULL story at link.

[Mythsaje]

1. China is historically known for its bureaucracy...

not to mention corruption. Would-be petty tyrants have also done whatever they wanted out of the view of the overseers in the capitol. If they truly want to do something about this problem, they will have to either increase the number of bureaucrats they send into the field, or empower the people themselves.