One of the three candidates for the rectorate of UQAM, the economist Stéphane Pallage, has he defended the “worst forms” of child labor in a scientific article?
University politics is not very different from politics itself: “We play even harder,” a professor friend assured me.
In connection with the election, which ends today, I became aware of the article in question. Did you mean to harm Mr Pallage? Perhaps. Without doubt.
The fact remains that the question is fundamentally interesting, especially in the context of Quebec’s labor shortage encouraging youth work.
The number of accidents at work in this category of workers has risen sharply. The Journal dedicated a file to him. Minister Jean Boulet conducted a consultation and presented Bill 19 on the phenomenon this week. Introduction of a minimum age of 14 years. Few exceptions. 17 hours per week max.
- Don’t miss Up on the Hill every weekday from 5:30pm via QUB radio :
ban
The 2005 article co-signed by Mr Pallage couldn’t be more scientific and was published in English in the Economic Journal, full of mathematical formulas.
But it is specifically about child labor in “poor countries”. At first glance, the conclusion may seem somewhat shocking: “While intuitively and morally compelling, banning the worst forms of child labor in poor countries is unlikely to improve the situation. »
The two economists Pallage and Sylvain E. Dessy want to show that “harmful forms of child labor play an economic role”. Examples: “Drug trafficking, deep-sea fishing, prostitution and pornographic activities. »
We are visibly shocked. How can we say that they can play an “economic role”? How to oppose their “ban” on this pretext?
Explanations
I called Mr Pallage. He calmly answered my questions.
He insists and signs: The law, the treaties, the conventions that prohibit these phenomena are “often not the right answer in a developing country”.
Child labor results from the extreme poverty in which families find themselves.
And even fundamentally “altruistic” parents eventually consent to their children engaging in harmful and dangerous activities.
To confine oneself to announcing a ban is to postpone the issue. Everything will be even more hidden.
Mr Pallage stresses that child labor in these countries “must be abolished”, but to do so we must first “understand their economic role”.
The article’s conclusions specifically state that any prohibition should be accompanied by measures that undermine the economic benefits of child labour. Like a food for education type program.
The 2005 article also caused controversy in 2017, when Pallage was proposed as rector of the University of Luxembourg. “That didn’t stop me from being nominated, and I was an excellent principal,” he replies confidently.
We want to conclude: His way of facing the controversy can also give this impression.
