Why Children Work

T OBACCO ’ S H IDDEN C HILDREN 32

And whatever I had left, I’d buy my little brother something. I wanted to buy clothes, but I

didn’t really have the chance to.” 33

Other children described similar reasons for working in tobacco. Raul D., a 13-year-old worker in eastern North Carolina, told Human Rights Watch, “I work so that I have money to buy clothes for school and school supplies, you know, like crayons and stuff. I’ve

already bought my backpack for next year.” 34 Adriana F., 14, works for hire on tobacco farms in Kentucky with her parents and her four brothers. When asked how she used her earnings, she told Human Rights Watch, “I use the money for school supplies and to go on field trips.” Jerardo S., 11, told Human Rights Watch he started working on tobacco farms in Kentucky to save for his college education, saying, “I told my mom I would save

it for the college or university where I want to go.” 35

Lack of Other Opportunities In addition to economic need, children, particularly those living in the US without authorization, reported working in tobacco because they lacked other employment and summer educational opportunities in their rural communities. Blanca A., like many farmworker children, was born in Mexico and works without authorization, even though she has lived in the United States for many years. “Most of my friends have jobs in the new sports shop, at McDonald’s or Bojangles, in the mall selling stuff,” she told Human

Rights Watch. “But usually for those jobs they ask for [your] social security [number].” 36 Claudio G., a 16-year-old unauthorized worker in North Carolina, told Human Rights Watch, “Tobacco is the only job we [unauthorized children] have during the summer.” 37

Other children said that they were too young to be hired to work other jobs. Alan F., a 15- year-old worker in eastern North Carolina who hopes to attend college after graduating from high school, told Human Rights Watch that he would continue working in tobacco until he was older. “There’s plenty of jobs, but I mean, I ain’t got the age,” he said. “If I

was older, I’d want to be a mechanic or work in construction or something like that.” 38

33 Human Rights Watch interview with Elena G., 13, Lenoir County, North Carolina, May 18, 2013.

34 Human Rights Watch interview with Raul D., 13, Wayne County, North Carolina, July 21, 2013.

35 Human Rights Watch interview with Jerardo S., 11, Boyle County, Kentucky, September 6, 2013.

36 Human Rights Watch interview with Blanca A., 14, Lenoir County, North Carolina, May 18, 2013.

37 Human Rights Watch interview with Claudio G., 16, Duplin County, North Carolina, July 27, 2013.

38 Human Rights Watch interview with Alan F., 15, Greene County, North Carolina, May 18, 2013.

33 H UMAN R IGHTS W ATCH | M AY 2014

Of the nine children interviewed by Human Rights Watch who worked on tobacco farms owned by family members, most had other career aspirations. For example, 15-year-old Bradley S., who started working on tobacco farms owned by his father and grandfather in eastern Kentucky at 8, told Human Rights Watch, “When I grow up, I want to be an

engineer.” 39

39 Human Rights Watch telephone interview with Bradley S., 15, August 6, 2013.

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