Indian teens for hire.

• Author: Cohen, Randy
• Position: THE ETHICIST - Brief article

I live in India, where it's common to have household help, including minors. A friend asked me to hire a 14-year-old from a poor family. I would have her do light work-wash dishes, dust--and give her nutritious meals. Is it better not to hire a minor or to hire her and treat her better than other prospective employers are likely to treat her?

Amita Chauhan, Mumbai, India

IT'S A GRIM TRUTH that many families face such dire poverty that they rely on their children's earnings to survive. So you may do some good by employing this 14-year-old. But you must be mindful of her age when determining her work and hours, considering not only her health and safety but also her future.

Jacqueline Novogratz of the Acumen Fund, a nonprofit based in New York that combats global poverty, suggests: "The employer could help the girl pay for school fees so that she can attend...