The Hidden Cost of Affordable Goods

Bryan Saenz, Guest Writer from Global Human Rights Advocacy 

Note: This article was written by a student of Dr. Meghan Cohen, in the class, Global Human Rights Advocacy. The Highlander is proud to serve as a platform for guest contributions and encourages collaboration between our community and our publication. 

Do you remember being 13 or 14 years old? For most of us, that time meant video games, friends, and carefree days. But for millions of children around the world, that age marks the beginning of labor, not leisure. Instead of classrooms and playgrounds, they face early mornings, late nights, and long, grueling hours of work, often at the cost of their education, health, and childhood itself. This is an issue that demands attention from a community committed to justice and ethical responsibility.

Child Labor is often treated as something from the past, something associated with early industrial factories or distant third-world countries. Sadly, that is simply not the case. Recent reporting shows it is increasingly present within the United States, and even here in Colorado. According to Abeyta and Moton (2025), child labor violations occur across all regions of the country. They are especially common in industries facing high competition, such as agriculture, food processing, and construction. Their analysis of nationwide data demonstrates that these violations persist not because laws are absent, but because employers choose to ignore them when economic pressure incentivizes cutting labor costs.

Employer behavior plays a central role in sustaining these violations. Abeyta and Moton argue that organizations themselves function as “occupational deviants”, prioritizing profit over legal and ethical responsibility. By relying on subcontractors or fragmented labor systems, employers often distance themselves from direct accountability while still benefiting from illegal labor practices. When penalties are small or enforcement is inconsistent, exploiting minors becomes a calculated risk rather than a deterrent. This shifts responsibility from individual workers and places it right on the systems and organizations that enable this abuse.

Policy decisions further complicate the issue. Fletcher and Stevenson (2025) examine how changes in education and labor policies directly affect the types of work minors are allowed to perform and the number of hours they can legally work. While some policies strengthen protections, others unintentionally open the door to exploitation by expanding permissible work hours or reducing oversight. Their research highlights how organizations often adapt quickly to policy changes in ways that maximize productivity, even when doing so places young workers at risk. In this sense, child labor is not merely the result of illegal activity, but of legal “grey areas” that prioritize economic output over child welfare.

These labor practices are deeply tied to the demand for affordable goods. As Nelson (2025) describes, free market systems reward companies that minimize production costs, and child labor provides a source of cheap, compliant labor that increases profit margins. Consumers rarely see this hidden cost when purchasing inexpensive food or everyday products. Yet,  affordability is often achieved through the exploitation of vulnerable workers who lack the power to advocate for themselves. This shows that low prices are not accidental, they are frequently built on labor practices that remain invisible to the public.

Industries tied to food production and agriculture are usually the main culprits. Scott (2025) documents how farmworkers in the United States, including minors, endure unsafe conditions and long hours while playing a critical role in sustaining the nation’s food system. These violations reflect broader industry failures rather than isolated incidents, showing how labor abuses are normalized when productivity is prioritized over human dignity. Luna (2025) further connects these issues to immigrant communities, showing how legal frameworks and systemic inequality push children and families into exploitative labor rules, especially in agricultural sectors.

For Regis University students, these findings should definitely provoke reflection and action. As members of a community grounded in social justice and ethical leadership, ignoring child labor contradicts the values we are encouraged to uphold. Addressing this issue does not require radical sacrifice, but it does require awareness. Students can educate themselves about supply chains, support companies with transparent labor practices, advocate for stronger labor laws, and engage in campus discussions about ethical consumption. Even small actions can help challenge systems that rely on exploitation remaining unseen.

Childhood should not be defined by exhaustion and sacrifice. While many of us look back on our early teenage years with nostalgia, millions of children, some in our own communities, are denied that experience. The hidden cost of affordable goods forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about the systems we benefit from. The question is no longer whether child labor exists, but whether we are willing to act once we understand our role in sustaining it.