The use of Child Labor is prevalent in China and students should be aware of the issue to avoid unintentional supportation.
According to US News, China has very low manufacturing costs, and these lower costs lead to lower prices for consumers.
Low manufacturing costs at face value are not the whole story. According to the non-profit organization, The Borgen Project, children are commodities in the workforce who are easily exploited.
“About 8% of Chinese children … work as child laborers,” The Borgen Project website said. These children are said to enter the workforce making footwear after dropping out of school, or they can be sold off by their parents.
Even if students do not drop out of school, they can still be forced to work on cotton plantations. According to the United States Department of Labor, up to one million students in school are required to work in these fields, and the amount of cotton they pick can influence if they move up grade levels.
These issues should be known by students because a considerable portion of college students buy “fast fashion.” This term refers to inexpensive clothing mass-produced for current trends, and according to Forbes, “72% of college students shopped fast fashion in 2022.”
Fast fashion is a strong contributor to child labor overseas, and because of the nature of changing trends often leading to clothes being constantly produced, the need for child workers remains. Brands like Shein are well-known examples of companies that have exploited child labor in China, but not all brands that use child labor are in fashion.
Another common industry that has connections to child labor in China is technology. According to a 2020 article by Business Insider, Apple knew for several years that one of their manufacturers used child labor, and this fact brings up questions about what brands currently know and are avoiding addressing.
With the Chinese being accused of Child labor in their own country, they seem to have looked beyond their borders for the practice. In Africa, the Chinese have been accused of exploiting children for profit in mines.
In the Congo, Chinese-owned lithium mines have reportedly been forcing children to work. Though not directly in China, these businesses still pose a large issue, and the House of Representatives reviewed the case in 2022.
As more students become aware of Child Labor issues, the options for buying affordable clothing can dwindle down for those cautious about unintentionally supporting child labor. At Kennesaw State University, OwlSwap is an on-campus sustainable fashion option.
Students need to be made aware of Child Labor issues because though ignorance is bliss, knowledge is power.
