An interesting article to say the least:

Unpaid Teens Bag Groceries for Wal-Mart – Newsweek

While some may bash Wal-Mart for these latest revelations on employing volunteer baggers at stores,  I believe this is a poignant example of free-will employment.

The money quote is:

In a country where nearly half of the population scrapes by on less than $4 a day, any income source is welcome in millions of households, even if it hinges on the goodwill of a tipping customer.

This points out a lot about the state of employment in Mexico. But Wal-Mart is allowing kids to enter the workforce, teaches them responsibility, and also teaches the value of exchanging their labor for the money people tip. So they don’t earn a wage. But they do have accident insurance. They can get bonuses. And Wal-Mart is encouraging a strong education by tying bonuses to educational performance. But because most Americans are used to a higher standard of living, they will pump their fists all the way to the sliding, automatic doors where they’ll then put them down and go on about their Wal-Mart shopping.