abstractMy research paper, "Child Labor in El Salvador," investigates the persistent issue of child labor in El Salvador, focusing on the lasting impacts of the Salvadoran Civil War and ongoing poverty. I explore how the war's devastation forced many young children into labor and examine the socio-economic factors that continue to drive this phenomenon and this issue is seen more in rural areas of El Salvador. Through historical analysis and contemporary case studies, I highlight the urgent need for systemic change to protect vulnerable children and ensure their right to education and a safe childhood.
Imagine a reality where the innocence of childhood collides with the harshness of poverty and conflict. In the heart of El Salvador, amidst the echoes of a civil war’s aftermath, lies a troubling truth: instead of children playing games and learning in school, they are in fields and factories, becoming young soldiers. It is said that child labor is widespread in El Salvador, but it is not only seen in this specific country. This issue is seen all over Central America and all around the world. I will discuss the devastating effect of child labor and how poverty and the civil war of El Salvador led to the exploitation of young, innocent children. This essay will explore how the prevalence of child labor in El Salvador is a multifaceted issue deeply rooted in the country’s history of poverty and the enduring impact of the civil war, as well as economic struggles and lack of opportunities. The civil war that occurred in El Salvador was a significant Component of Child labor. According to the article “Children in El Salvador: Getting Exploited and Missing Opportunities,” The article depicts how El Salvador's Civil War killed 75,000 people, persisting from 1979 to 1992. It received attention from all over the world, not only because of the vast amount of harm but also because of its significant use of child soldiers. The article “Children in El Salvador: Getting Exploited and Missing Opportunities also states,” explains how the Salvadoran war is distinct because of their dependency on child soldiers. Over 80 percent of the government’s troops and over 20 percent of the FMLN were under eighteen years of age. Near the beginning of the war, children were recruited in multiple ways - they were either threatened or abducted as they were walking, or they would do large group roundups. For example, in the aforementioned article, in 1981, a young man named Carlos and his friends were walking when suddenly a truck filled with soldiers forced them into their vehicle. One of his friends was released days later because he was too small and wore glasses. But Carlos, 14, was told to stay and thus, began training in the Fuerzas Armadas. At the time, he had no intention of serving. They threatened to kill his family if he ever tried to escape. Another young child was also threatened and told that if he were to escape, they would kill his family. Yet, days later, he found out that his family was killed regardless. In “Child Soldiers in the Salvadoran Civil War” by Samantha Miller, she speaks out regarding the exploitation of children and how they are forced to become soldiers at a young age. During the civil war of El Salvador, recruiting children was not seen as an issue, and this is what made the war in El Salvador unique - children practically fought it. The journal states, “According to the United States, the term child labor refers to any person below 18 years of age, who is or has been recruited by an armed force or armed group in any capacity…. Or being used as fighters, cooks, spies, etc. Children were recruited because of their lack of fear, and they can easily be indoctrinated.” Many groups that use children feel justified in doing so to obtain their preferred outcome. These child soldiers had an active role in the Civil War, typically spying, running messages, scouting, or fighting. Children were put in risky environments daily. Most of the time, this led to their deaths. Children had significant responsibilities that they had to carry and there was no distinction between adulthood and childhood; children are forced to mature due to the circumstances of the war. Another major component of child labor is not only the civil war; it was poverty, and up to this date, still exists. Poverty is mainly found in rural areas rather than the city. The article “Human Rights Watch: Turning a Blind Eye: Hazardous Child Labor In El Salvador’s Sugarcane Cultivation” by Yeomin Ryu documents the prevalence of child labor in El Salvador’s sugarcane cultivation, specifically the planting and cutting of sugarcane. Ryu shows the hazardousness of working in the sugar cane fields, and how this environment affects their mental and physical health. Yet, several children don’t have the luxury of choosing - they must work due to poverty, and alongside their parents. For example, Ryu interviews a worker named Alma who states, “While Alma and her coworkers were planting, other workers, including children, cut sugarcane on the fields that had been planted previously.” As we can see, children at that young age have to work, and working in the sugarcane fields is dangerous because, as Alma stated, “I had huge blisters and scars on my hands, especially on my palms, the first day. Sugarcane leaves are covered with a substance that is a skin irritant.” Young children who are, or were working in the sugarcane fields had to experience this; these small injuries can lead to infections that are also harmful to adults. Children’s health and safety are not guaranteed in sugarcane cultivation, and plantation foremen turn a blind eye to the fact that children as young as eight cut cane. My dad, who is from El Salvador, said that he didn’t finish school because he had to work alongside his father to earn money for the home and his five other siblings. He worked in the sugarcane fields as well as the milpas (corn fields) and woke up early to be at the fields by like 5 or 6 am, and sometimes, right after, he would go to school. As mentioned previously, poverty is a major component of child labor anywhere in the world. However, many do not see an issue with children beginning to work at a young age. According to the article “Challenges and Perspectives of Child Labor” by Amir Radfar, it is common for children to start working at an early stage. Radfar states, “Some cultural traditions encourage child labor as footsteps to their parents' jobs. Macroeconomic factors also encourage child labor by the growth of the low-pay informal economy.” Children lose the little opportunity they have to earn an education because they have no choice but to work. These kids can’t enjoy their childhood because they instead have to worry about their assumed responsibilities as if they were adults. Although recently, with an increase in education in the economy, child labor has decreased. However, child labor is still a widespread issue in many parts of the world. Impoverished families see it as a necessity. An Economic Perspective on Child Labor by the UNSW Economics Society states, “The cause of child labor equally stems from poverty. Families in developing countries are driven by the necessity to send their children to work… Migrant families typically rely on their children to work in fields or mines to supplement the family income. Children are valuable human capital because their energy levels and nimble fingers are suited to picking crops.” And I repeat, many families are driven to make this decision due to poverty because children are young and are full of energy. They are reliable for certain tasks, and children are gullible – if you were to ask a young child to come along to work with you, they would most likely agree, and think nothing of it. Another major component of child labor is the geographical location. According to the article, “Eliminating Child Labor In El Salvador through Economic Empowerment and Social Inclusion,” Despite El Salvador’s efforts to combat child labor, more than 188,000 children work. Most of them are boys living in rural areas and work alongside their families without receiving payment. It is estimated that 68 percent of these children come from female-headed households.” Most of these rural areas are where many work for large companies. In rural areas, you will find corn fields, sugarcane fields, and much more due to the vast space to plant crops. The book, Working to Eliminate Human Rights Abuses of Children: A Cross-National Study,” discusses a recent case about child labor in sugar plantations in El Salvador. His book explains how international child labor has been formed, and highlights how difficult it is to dismantle this issue, as child labor is useful for many companies; having children working in the field facilitates many aspects, making it ideal for companies to hire children. An example of a well-known company benefiting from child labor is Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company uses sugar harvested by El Salvador and is aware of the child labor there. While Coca-Cola has made it known that they have principles to follow and does not tolerate child labor, they continue to use sugar harvested by El Salvador’s sugar plantations. Child labor won’t stop if changes aren’t made. Thus, the widespread issue of child labor in El Salvador is deeply connected to the country's history of poverty and the lasting effects of the Civil War, as well as the different perspectives of different people. It reflects a complex challenge rooted in economic struggles and limited opportunities for children.
As we reflect on the devastating effects of child labor in this Central American nation, it becomes clear that the scars of the past, particularly the Civil War, are still seen in the lives of young people. Poverty, acting as an unrelenting force, compels children to step into roles meant for adults - their innocence is taken away from them. Therefore, we can no longer ignore this issue. It's not just about the past; it's happening now, and it is still happening all over the world. Kids should be in school, playing, and enjoying their childhood. Let's work towards a future where every child can just be a kid. Works Cited An Economic Perspective on Child Labour - Unswecosoc.Com, www.unswecosoc.com/interesting-articles/an-economic-perspective-on-child-labour/. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023. Bochenek, Michael Garcia. “Turning a Blind Eye.” Human Rights Watch, 28 Mar. 2023, www.hrw.org/report/2004/06/09/turning-blind-eye/hazardous-child-labor-el-salvadors-sugarcane-cultivation. Children in El Salvador: Getting Exploited and Missing Opportunities, www.american.edu/cas/economics/ejournal/upload/ryu_accessible.pdf. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023. Child Soldiers in the Salvadoran Civil War - Xavier University, www.exhibit.xavier.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=xjur. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023. “Eliminating Child Labour in El Salvador through Economic Empowerment and Social Inclusion.” DOL, www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/eliminating-child-labour-el-salvador-through-economic-empowermen t-and-social. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023. Radfar, Amir, et al. “Challenges and Perspectives of Child Labor.” Industrial Psychiatry Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6198592/. Schechter, Michael G., and Michael Bochenek. “Working to eliminate human rights abuses of children: A cross-national comparative study.” Human Rights Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 3, 2008, pp. 579–606. Comments are closed.
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