Americans’ Views of Child Labor Around the World
The cost of child labor is tremendous. Children forced to work from a young age are at great physical risk, often working in extremely hazardous conditions.
Child labor also keeps children from attending school, which contributes to sustaining the generational cycle of poverty. A new survey on behalf of ChildFund International reveals Americans' attitudes towards child labor around the world.
Here are the numbers you need to know: There are 150 million children aged 5-14 engaged in child labor around the world. Source: UNICEF.
Only 1 percent of Americans estimated this number correctly. 73 percent of Americans polled guessed that there were fewer than 1 million children involved in child labor. More than ¾ of Americans are willing to commit to changes in shopping habits, when confronted with the numbers. 55 percent of Americans would spend more for clothing produced without child labor. Americans are willing to spend on average 34 percent more on clothing that was not made by children.
"These survey findings provide telling insight into Americans’ attitudes about child labor and should help companies understand that they need not make economic choices over moral ones. I believe that American consumers will become increasingly educated about the source of the products they purchase and begin making more knowledgeable and ethically driven buying decisions." Anne Lynam Goddard, President & CEO of ChildFund International.
ChildFund works in 30 countries around the world to help children and families break the poverty cycle. Many of ChildFund’s projects discourage child labor, such as supporting entrepreneurial efforts through micro-loans, or training teens and young adults to earn a sustainable living.
To learn more, visit child-labor-survey.