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Dilemmas in Public Policy Against Child Labor

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Community Prevention of Child Labor

Part of the book series: Human Well-Being Research and Policy Making ((HWBRPM))

Abstract

In this chapter we examine the dilemmas that exist in the formulation of child labor policies. While public opinion is often sensitive to the needs of children in general, and those of working children in particular, recent years have seen a debate on the most appropriate strategies to address the problem. Despite the fact that children are perceived as a vulnerable population segment, the introduction of the child agency perspective has meant in practice a questioning of the traditional models of protection in social work with children. This has led to qualify the objectives of “eradication” of child labor and to establish limits in international labor standards, with the counterbalance of local needs. In any case, income redistribution policies within a framework of consensus among social actors have proven to be particularly effective. Therefore, despite the controversies regarding the degree of relevance and adjustment, there is sufficient evidence to defend investment in education and health for preventive purposes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Psicología Social, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain

    Isidro Maya Jariego

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  1. Isidro Maya Jariego
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Maya Jariego, I. (2021). Dilemmas in Public Policy Against Child Labor. In: Community Prevention of Child Labor. Human Well-Being Research and Policy Making. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70810-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70810-8_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-70809-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-70810-8

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