While child labor is viewed negatively, apparently child labor and child slavery aren’t the same thing, and child labor though it could still be exploitative/cruel in other ways, can be done voluntarily by the child, and with fair treatment/compensation/etc.

I suppose you could make the argument that any child labor opens itself up to problems, but could it be done responsibly? And if not, then at what age do we draw the line of labor being not ok regardless of consent?

    • DragonWasabi@monyet.ccOP
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      1 year ago

      I was wondering if the cobalt mined for smartphones could be done ethically, even if they still needed to use children for it. What if the children clearly consent to working and are treated well in good conditions and paid fairly?

      • spitz@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Well, that doesn’t work for sexual consent, and I guess it would be similar regarding this issue. Informed consent requires the person to be of such an age that their consent is valid. I’m no expert, that was just my initial thought.

      • pjhenry1216@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Ok, this has to be trolling now. This is the career you want them in a headstart in? A dangerous job? All mining has health implications.

      • NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Great point OP. Really makes you wonder why we don’t have more kindergartners working the oil rigs, or fighting as mercenaries in the Middle East.