The speeding fashion rapid manufacturing (from now on FRP) led to the birth of a new stream of consumerism, which was meant by constantly replacing fashionable clothing at low prices. However, beneath the surface of this seemingly glamorous industry lies a moral dilemma: as the use of children for this type of labour by many people in the world, ethical questions regarding child labour in the fast fashion industry may be considered in an examination of child labour exploitation from a Kantian ethics perspective. Rather than that, the paper focuses on the very inconceivable aspects of bringing money from little victims of child work abuse concerning Kant’s views on universality and human manifest. The separation between theoretical and practical reasoning was initiated and systematized by Kant, who argued that there were two distinct kinds of concepts: those of nature and those of freedom. In so doing, he set out different principles according to which those objects can be known and also different principles that govern those concepts themselves ( Thompson and Michael 238).
The issuance of child labour by the industry through internal outsourcing, though, is an inhumane problem that gladly violates kids’ imperative human rights and dignity significantly. The less affluent children from poor countries are faced with child labour. Sometimes, they spend many hours working hard, away from the conventional working time for children. Could financial troubles have compelled the dropout? The father’s disability and death certainly meant the loss of the family’s income. After the burial in 1746, Kant began to disband the household (his mother had died in 1737), sold off what property remained, and found homes for his siblings. Poverty affected Kant’s life ( Wood and Allen, 35). Moreover, these workers may have wages that are not even enough for their everyday living, putting them in a predicament. Furthermore, apart from that notorious injustice, these children become victims of working in unsafe factories or being near dangerous chemicals, which is undoubtedly a deadly danger to them and jeopardizes their health.
Despite serious joint efforts of multinationals designed to create conditions for the elimination of child labour, such a sad evil as more than 168 million child-aged workers roaming the planet continues. Of the various reasons accelerating this problem in fashion, the main one is the fast fashion sector. Fashion companies put profit at the top of their agenda and disregard all ecological concerns because they search for the most effective production methods. Thus, the children are initiated into the deadly world of ruthless exploitation until their insatiable ulterior motives of providing cheap clothes are achieved.
The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) study on child labour in garment factories does not stop there; instead, it also focuses on how prevalent child labour has become in the production of clothes. The report suggests the dire need to put in place prompt intervention efforts targeting the root causes of child labour, including poverty, lack of education and social inequalities. In addition to that, the framework also establishes the significance of transnational companies in executing ethical supply chains and children’s labour rights. Through this ILO paper, we understand the systemic aspect of the problem and the significance of the comprehensive approach to the solution of the problem.
Argument and Supporting Reasoning
The comparison of Kantian ethics and child labour in the fast fashion industry depends on the perspectives and outlines the underside of outsourced child labour. The universality principle, as proposed by Kant, stipulates that acting on a maxim can only be considered moral if it is universally applicable. “But although a universal law of nature might exist by that maxim, it is impossible to will that such a principle should have the universal validity of a law of nature. For a will which resolved this would contradict itself since many cases might occur in which one would need the love and sympathy of others and in which, by such a law of nature, sprung from his own will, he would hope of the aid he desires…” (Kant and Immanuel)
The Child Labour issue not only makes us consider the ethical concerns arising from this case but also fails the test, which stands against the notion that every human being is endowed with intrinsic value and dignity and, thus, should not be exploited for convenience. Also, the ethical rule of “human dignity” proposed by Kant promotes the idea that an individual’s worth lies in one’s personhood and not just in a mere means to some end. In a world of rising capitalism where the supply of commodities must meet the demand, the chance for a drastic change is still feasible. Globalization’s influence is inevitable, and although it may have some positive effects on child labour, in the long run, the adverse effects roughly overshadow the positives. On the other hand, given that the number of child labourers has decreased in many parts of the world, there is certainly a promising future for ending the problem once and for all. The U.S. should start “)+ with domestic changes, namely altering its agricultural laws, and be more reprehensible towards states with direct relations, whether in trade or foreign direct investments ( Harbie and Micheline 179). Fastening child labour to clothing in the fast fashion industry with an orientation to children as commodities fails to give place to the rights of children to their agency and autonomy and makes any child labour abuses endless.
Similarly, the extra thinking from multiple human rights views quenches our curiosity and allows us to reflect on another aspect of child labour inappropriateness. The UNCRC, as one example of an agreement, provides in transparent language a child’s right to be protected from exploitation in terms of making use of their economic situation and doing any harmful or hazardous work. Fast fashion exercising child labour is an instance and a breach of children’s fundamental human rights. It is a contender for the already systemic injustices and worsening economic disparities. Meanwhile, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is an organization in which standards are set and codes of practice are used to do away with child labour and grant everyone the opportunity to do decent work. The global fashion industry chain sharing of child labour not only contradicts fundamental human rights internationally but also downgrades global attempts to create a better world and achieve social justice at large.
Adhering to Kantian ethics and the human rights lens, the wrongdoing of the problem of child labour in the outsourcing of the mass production industry is vivid. It is a direct challenge to established moral norms such as Kant’s principle of universalizability and human personhood, as well as the internationally recognized human rights laws. “To rephrase Griffin’s position in these terms, the appeal to the basic human interests that constitute personhood allows human rights to be justified to an inclusive domain, with the relevance of such interests to the shared concept of quality of life providing the intelligible connection. I wonder if Griffin’s position is whether basic interests are the sorts of consideration that can plausibly play a coordinating role. I see that it is easy to locate certain basic interests in a rich conception of the rational structure of human nature. However, what must be kept squarely in view is that the notion of ‘rational structure’ denotes a diverse array of inherited world conceptions constituting cultural forms of life. The specification of a list of basic human interests must take place at a level of considerable abstraction to capture morally weighty features of human life across the diversity of ethical outlooks” ( Tasioulas and John 222).
Fast fashion companies are extending the vicious cycle of exploitation by downplaying ethical principles and exporting low-wage labour, perpetuating social inequality. These kids are not only withheld from enjoying their fundamental rights and liberty. Therefore, the issue of child labour outsourcing is not resolved by thinking about morality but by implementing regulatory measures on universal children’s rights and values.
Conclusion
Last but not least, childhood slavery should be counteracted and replaced with a system to protect human rights and prevent future exploitation of vulnerable children in the creation of fast fashion products. The UN International Labour Organization (ILO) study on child labour in the garment industry is eye-opening. It helps us get a deeper glance at the all-encompassing issue and the imperative necessity of systemic solutions. States with the most capabilities, like the United States, have the greatest potency to control smaller states and eventually alter the structure of the political system. According to Neorealists like Waltz, the fact that the international system is decentralized plays a role in why international laws governing child labour, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and ILO Conventions No.138 and No.182, “‘+ are not as effective as having a centralized authority. As the international system is characterized by anarchy, each state has a government that enforces child labour laws. Still, they may enforce them as they see fit with the benefit of having sovereignty (Waltz). Arguably, even if states are parties to international measures against child labour, they can only be reprimanded to a certain extent if they violate such agreements or human rights norms ( Harbie and Micheline 159). It should be noted that the ILO report gives directions from the government for fast actions to prevent the causes of child labour, such as poverty, poor education and discrimination that can occur in organizations.
Besides, it shows that the existence of such multinational businesses is crucial to realize that workers, not even children, are not oppressed. Therefore, the report from the ILO is a justification for governments, companies, and civil society to prioritize the physical and emotional well-being of all the workers in the fast fashion supply chain, ensuring that their activities are streamlined and functioning. The only remedy for condemning child labour is by involving all social actors and tackling its causes, such as poverty, and by complying with the country’s international labour standards. Finally, eradicating this terrible breach of human dignity and equity will be prominent, especially for the next generation.
References
Kant, Immanuel. “Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals.” Seven masterpieces of philosophy. Routledge, 2016. 277–328.
Tasioulas, John. On the nature of human rights. Na, 2012.
Wood, Allen W. “Kant’s formulations of the Moral Law.” A Companion to Kant (2006): 291-307.
Harbie, Micheline. Child labour in the modern era. (c2014). Diss. Lebanese American University, 2016.
Thompson, Michael J. Constructing Marxist ethics: critique, normativity, praxis. Vol. 74. Brill, 2015.
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