Child labor violations soared in fiscal 2023
Child labor violations soared in fiscal 2023 The Washington Post
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Child Labor Violations Soar in the United States
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Introduction
Child labor violations in the United
States soared in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, according to data released by the Labor Department on Thursday,
rising to their highest level in nearly two decades.
Data on Child Labor Violations
The agency found 5,792 minors working
in violation of child labor laws in the year ending Sept. 30, an 88 percent increase since 2019, the
department announced Thursday.
Factors Contributing to Child Labor Cases
Experts attribute surging child labor
cases in the United States to a variety of factors. The historically tight labor market coming out of
pandemic shutdowns has fueled labor shortages across a variety of industries, but especially in lower-paying
service-sector jobs, pushing employers to hire more minors; searing inflation has also weighed heavily on
households, spurring more young people to seek work. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied
minors have arrived in the United States, often seeking work.
Biden Administration’s Efforts
The uptick in child labor violations
has also coincided with an increased effort by the Biden administration to crack down on employers that
violate child labor laws.
Current Child Labor Laws
Federal labor law prohibits children
younger than 14 from working and prohibits all minors from working in industries deemed hazardous by the
agency. It also prevents minors under 16 from working past 7 p.m. on school nights and 9 p.m. during the
summer.
Enforcement Measures
In February, the Labor Department
announced an initiative to use data analysis to launch investigations into work sites where child violations
were most likely to occur. The Biden administration also established an interagency task force, involving the
departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture among others, to improve outreach and training to
combat child labor abuses.
Increased Investigations and Penalties
The Labor Department announced
Thursday that it concluded 955 investigations with child labor violations in fiscal 2023, compared with 835
the year before. The Labor Department says it currently has over 800 child labor investigations underway.
Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Efforts to Prevent Child Exploitation
“While these enforcement results show
we’re holding more employers accountable for exploiting kids, they also show there’s still work to do to
prevent children from being exploited in the first place,” according to Jessica Looman, the agency’s wage and
hour administrator, which oversees the enforcement of child labor laws.
Increased Penalties for Violations
Penalties levied on employers that
violate child labor laws also climbed to $8 million in fiscal 2023, according to the department, an 83
percent increase compared with the previous year. The maximum civil penalty for employers under current child
labor laws is $15,138 per child.
Legislative Efforts and Lobbying
This year lawmakers from both parties
have introduced legislation to boost penalties for child labor violations, though these efforts have stalled
as companies have lobbied to thwart the efforts.
Relaxation of Child Labor Laws
At the same time, states with
Republican-controlled legislatures have been working to relax child labor laws. Since 2021, 10 states have
introduced bills that loosen regulations around when and where minors can work. For example, Arkansas passed
a bill this year that eliminates age-verification requirements for minors under 16 to work. Iowa, meanwhile,
approved a bill this year that extends legal working hours for 14- and 15-year-olds.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses child labor violations in the United States, which are connected to SDG 8 as it focuses on decent work and economic growth. It also mentions the importance of education (SDG 4) in preventing child labor. Additionally, the article highlights the need for strong institutions and justice (SDG 16) to enforce child labor laws and hold employers accountable.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- 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.
- 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.
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
The article highlights the need to address child labor violations, which aligns with Target 8.7 of SDG 8. It also emphasizes the importance of providing relevant skills and education to youth to prevent child labor, supporting Target 4.4 of SDG 4. Lastly, it mentions the need to end exploitation and violence against children, which relates to Target 16.2 of SDG 16.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of child labor violations reported and investigated
- Number of minors working in violation of child labor laws
- Number of investigations concluded with child labor violations
- Penalties levied on employers for child labor violations
The article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include the number of child labor violations reported and investigated, the number of minors working in violation of child labor laws, the number of investigations concluded with child labor violations, and the penalties levied on employers for child labor violations.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| 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. | – Number of child labor violations reported and investigated – Number of minors working in violation of child labor laws – Penalties levied on employers for child labor violations |
| 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. | – Number of minors working in violation of child labor laws – Number of investigations concluded with child labor violations |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | – Number of child labor violations reported and investigated – Penalties levied on employers for child labor violations |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: washingtonpost.com
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