06-10-2017, 04:43 AM
Even Mexican children as young as five are cherry picking for next to nothing.
I have hired workers* to grow and pick vegetables. Here is an example of the child worker discussion:
ADULT (Parent) WORKER: "I can't come in today. I can't find a baby sitter."
The farm owner now has to decide, is he better off with no worker, or a worker with a child in tow. If you think the farm owner is getting free child slave labor, find yourself a 5 year old. Any 5 year old. Boy, girl, white, Hispanic, black, etc... Ask them to do any chore. How'd they do? How long did they work before getting distracted? How much would you pay them for the work they did?
When the farmer hires a worker who brings along a child, he doesn't get free labor, he gets a worker who is also watching their child, so they accomplish less than usual.
The farmer, however, does get an extra worker to come in that day, so it's better than nothing.
The worker doesn't have to stay home and watch their child, so they can work, and get paid. Which is better than not getting paid.
It's not an ideal situation for either owner or worker, but it's better than the alternative.
* Back in the 1980's. All legal born and raised American citizens.
I have hired workers* to grow and pick vegetables. Here is an example of the child worker discussion:
ADULT (Parent) WORKER: "I can't come in today. I can't find a baby sitter."
The farm owner now has to decide, is he better off with no worker, or a worker with a child in tow. If you think the farm owner is getting free child slave labor, find yourself a 5 year old. Any 5 year old. Boy, girl, white, Hispanic, black, etc... Ask them to do any chore. How'd they do? How long did they work before getting distracted? How much would you pay them for the work they did?
When the farmer hires a worker who brings along a child, he doesn't get free labor, he gets a worker who is also watching their child, so they accomplish less than usual.
The farmer, however, does get an extra worker to come in that day, so it's better than nothing.
The worker doesn't have to stay home and watch their child, so they can work, and get paid. Which is better than not getting paid.
It's not an ideal situation for either owner or worker, but it's better than the alternative.
* Back in the 1980's. All legal born and raised American citizens.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves