A Kentucky company violated child labor laws. We can do better than that.

Child Labor Protections and the Sustainable Development Goals

Karen M. Garnett-Civils

Introduction

Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or a member of the community, we all want to make sure that the children in our neighborhoods are safe, healthy, and have access to the education they deserve. The child labor protections established in 1938 by the Fair Labor Standards Act were designed to ensure just that — that children have safe, healthy jobs that do not stand in the way of their educational opportunities. At the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, we are dedicated to making these protections a reality for the young people in our community.

Recent Child Labor Violation Case in Kentucky

Here in Kentucky, a recent U.S. Department of Labor investigation found Win.IT America Inc. violated child labor laws when the company employed two children, an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old, for months at its distribution center. The company employed one child to operate a forklift and tasked another to pick up orders in a warehouse. This type of work can place children in grave danger.

Child Labor is not a Thing of the Past

Unfortunately, cases like our Win.IT America investigation remind us that illegal child labor is not a thing of the past. In recent years, the Wage and Hour Division has seen a troubling rise in child labor violations across the country. In fiscal year 2023, we found nearly 5,800 children employed illegally, an 88% increase since 2019. Employers were assessed more than $8 million in penalties for those violations, an increase of 83% from the previous year.

Nationwide Child Labor Enforcement and Outreach Initiative

To combat the problem, the department is actively engaged in a nationwide child labor enforcement and outreach initiative. Our top priority is protecting the most vulnerable workers in our country and our state – kids. We are providing education and training to parents, youth, school officials, and employers so that everyone understands the rules and how they can help protect Kentucky’s youngest workers.

Importance of Age-Appropriate and Safe Workplace Experiences

By staying informed and raising awareness of federal child labor rules against dangerous jobs and excessive hours, we can ensure that teenagers’ first jobs are good, safe jobs. Positive, age-appropriate work experiences can allow young people to develop skills and learn what it means to be part of the labor force. These are the kinds of good jobs that can get young workers on the path to good careers.

Call to Action

To be clear, age-appropriate and safe workplace experiences offer teens valuable learning opportunities and a chance to earn money. Those benefits, however, must never come at the expense of a young person’s education or well-being. We call on parents, educators, and others concerned about our communities and the future of Kentucky’s youngest workers to work together to keep teen workers safe. We will not allow our economy to be built on the backs of children. Kentucky is better than that.

About the Author

Karen M. Garnett-Civils is a district director for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division in Louisville, Kentucky.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. 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 type of skill.

2. 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, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.
   • Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.

The article discusses the issue of child labor and its impact on education and the well-being of children. This aligns with SDG 4, which aims to ensure quality education for all. The specific target under SDG 4 that can be identified is Target 4.4, which focuses on increasing the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment. The article highlights the importance of protecting children from dangerous jobs that hinder their educational opportunities.

The article also addresses SDG 8, which aims to promote decent work and economic growth. The specific target under SDG 8 that can be identified is Target 8.7, which calls for the eradication of child labor in all its forms. The article discusses the rise in child labor violations and emphasizes the need for stronger enforcement measures to protect young workers.

The article mentions two indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. Indicator 4.4.1 measures the proportion of youth and adults with ICT skills, which is relevant to Target 4.4. Indicator 8.7.1 measures the proportion and number of children engaged in child labor, which is relevant to Target 8.7.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: courier-journal.com