2023: the year of rising child labor
2023: the year of rising child labor The Week
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The Labor Market and Child Labor Violations
The labor market stayed strong this year despite the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes, which were designed to slow the economy and bring down stubbornly high inflation. The continued hiring by American companies helped the economy avoid falling into a recession, but the hiring came with some unintended consequences. One was a surge in child labor, as employers brought in the cheapest labor they could find during a tight job market.
Illegal Hiring
- Many businesses struggled to keep fully staffed during the pandemic, and the job market remained tight even after Covid-19 cases dropped sharply and life returned to normal. Desperate for workers, many companies hired young workers.
- The Department of Labor concluded cases involving 4,474 children employed in violation of federal child labor laws between Oct. 1, 2022, and July 20, 2023, a 44% increase from the year before.
- The department imposed more than $6.6 million in penalties, up 87% from the previous year.
Changing Laws
- A growing number of states have started weakening protections for kids in the workplace.
- By June 2023, Arkansas, Iowa, New Jersey and New Hampshire had enacted laws easing restrictions, and lawmakers in at least another eight states were debating similar legislation.
A Crackdown
- The Biden administration in February announced measures to crack down on child-labor violations.
- The steps included launching an interagency task force and increasing tracking of minors who enter the United States alone.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
-
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor
- Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group (relevant to child labor issue)
- Indicator 8.7.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population (relevant to human trafficking issue)
-
SDG 4: Quality Education
- Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship
- Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by sex and type of skill (relevant to the impact of child labor on education)
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor |
|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship |
|
Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 4: Quality Education.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under SDG 8 are:
– Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
The specific target under SDG 4 is:
– Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
For SDG 8, the following indicators can be used:
– Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group (relevant to child labor issue)
– Indicator 8.7.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population (relevant to human trafficking issue)
For SDG 4, the following indicator can be used:
– Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by sex and type of skill (relevant to the impact of child labor on education)
These indicators can help measure progress in eradicating child labor, ensuring decent work conditions, and promoting quality education.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor |
|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship |
|
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Source: theweek.com
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