How does Smokey Mountain's economy perpetuate child labour?

Smokey Mountain's economy perpetuates child labour through its reliance on scavenging and recycling waste for income.

Smokey Mountain, a large landfill site in Manila, Philippines, has a unique economy that is heavily dependent on scavenging and recycling waste. This economy, unfortunately, perpetuates child labour due to the high demand for cheap labour and the extreme poverty experienced by the families living there.

The primary source of income for families in Smokey Mountain is scavenging for recyclable materials in the landfill. This work is labour-intensive and dangerous, but it requires no special skills or education, making it accessible to children. Many families are so impoverished that they rely on their children's earnings to survive. This creates a cycle of poverty and child labour, as children are forced to work instead of attending school, limiting their future employment prospects and perpetuating the cycle.

Moreover, the informal nature of the economy in Smokey Mountain makes it difficult to regulate and enforce child labour laws. The scavenging work is not officially recognised as employment, so it falls outside the purview of labour regulations. This allows employers to exploit child labour with impunity, further entrenching the practice.

The lack of alternative economic opportunities also contributes to the perpetuation of child labour. With limited access to education and other resources, many families have no other means of earning a living apart from scavenging. This lack of options forces children into work at a young age, often in hazardous conditions.

In addition, the broader socio-economic context of the Philippines, marked by high levels of poverty and inequality, exacerbates the situation. The country's weak social safety nets and limited access to quality education and healthcare make it difficult for families to escape the cycle of poverty and child labour.

In conclusion, the economy of Smokey Mountain perpetuates child labour through its reliance on scavenging for income, the informal nature of the work, the lack of alternative economic opportunities, and the broader socio-economic context of the Philippines.