While child labor is viewed negatively, apparently child labor and child slavery aren’t the same thing, and child labor though it could still be exploitative/cruel in other ways, can be done voluntarily by the child, and with fair treatment/compensation/etc.
I suppose you could make the argument that any child labor opens itself up to problems, but could it be done responsibly? And if not, then at what age do we draw the line of labor being not ok regardless of consent?
I guess education might be worth prioritizing over making an early start on their career, but I don’t know, I could see a career move potentially even being more important if it’s a good opportunity.
The kinds of jobs you get even as a teenager are not growth careers. They don’t get these ‘good opportunities’ that you speak of.
Exactly the jobs you’d offer a teenager are not careers, but if you’re exploiting children you’d want to think they’re careers. A low laying fast food job can seem like a career if you dangle a meaningless promotion in front of them
What kind of work do you think these kids are doing? Like are you picturing a 12 year old getting a leg-up on their adult “competition” because they started their career as a literal child?