Introduction Schmitz and fellow author define child labor as “the employment of children at regular and sustained labor” 1 . The issue of child labor has been a source of heated debate in many countries. While critics argue that it is an inappropriate and exploitative act, a few of the people who support the act think it is important for children to be taught independence at an early stage. Many countries have banned the act and many international organizations consider it exploitative. Child labor has been existent for as long history can record. “It has was employed to varying extents through most of history, but entered public dispute with the advent of universal schooling, with changes in working conditions during the industrial revolution, and with the emergence of the concepts of workers’ and children’s right” 2 . Perhaps the work form of child labor was recorded during the industrial revolution when children as young as five years old were employed in processing factories. There they worked with adults in equally dangerous and sometimes fatal working conditions. In Scotland for example, more than two thirds of the workers in the cotton mills during the mid to late 1780s were children. During the 19 th century, one on every three poor homes was without a bread winner due to the high number of deaths. This meant that children had to work to support themselves and younger siblings. Coal mines were also popular during this time and companies employed many children since the tunnels were too small for children to crawl. Based on this understanding, almost all the rich nations today consider the issue a violation of human rights. Unfortunately, most poor countries are yet to confront the issue comprehensively while children continue to suffer in tasks that their age does not allow them to handle. Opposing views “UNICEF estimates that 250 million children aged 5 to 14 years old are still in child labor worldwide, excluding child domestic labor” 3 . It is not until recently that psychologists started providing reliable information on the effects of child labor. From the views of different stakeholders, it is clear that there are very many negative effects. However, few people still support this act with a few reasons. It is argued that letting children provide for themselves or their families at an early age teaches them responsibility. It countries where poverty is rampant, many homes have one or both parents missing as a result of death or abandonment. In such cases, children need to learn how to take care of themselves and cater to their needs. Medical care in poor nations is not easily available. This means that when parents are sick, employed children are able to provide the most basic needs such as food through their wages. Another argument for child labor is that it keeps poor children from engaging in more dangerous professions such as prostitution. The negative effects of child labor are many and disheartening. First and foremost, child labor deprives children of a proper and normal childhood. Time meant for playing and developing psychologically is spent working. Another effect is physical and mental torture. While adults’ body and minds may adapt to working a number of hours a day, children’s bodies and minds have no ability to adopt to an arranged s