This happened in New South Wales, in a very rural area. People are not going to commute out to this remote location for minimum wage.
Kids volunteer on the weekends and parents sign off on it.
Some of the kids like it because they don't have anything else to do, they learn a job skill, and they make a little money.
That said, I don't agree with it. Hire adults and do what everyone else does by having a "bring your child to work day/week" if you want to teach kids. Or make a field trip. Let's not go backwards in society to benefit companies.
I made this exact argument yesterday on the shit hole formerly known as Reddit, and of course got nothing but backlash from angry neck beards who think everyone should be allowed to pull themselves up by their bootstraps at the age of 11.
Having partially grown up with this shit, I would say these asshole can absolutely get fucked and do the work themselves. They good enough to count beans, they good enough to clear the land, plant em, take care of them, harvest them, and sell 'em all before they get to do beancounting duties. You count the beans you bring to market by the sweat of your own brows, no exceptions
Might help them realize why Protestant work ethic shit is garbage exploiter nonsense