Hawley, Booker Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Child Labor Practices, Hold Corporations Accountable for Violations

Preventing Child Labor Exploitation Act Introduced in the U.S. Senate

Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Child Labor Exploitation Act to prohibit companies that illegally employ children from securing coveted federal government contracts. This legislation aims to address the alarming increase in illegal child labor, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.

Background

The Department of Labor recently reported a startling 69 percent increase in illegal child labor since 2018, including high-profile cases involving minors employed in dangerous jobs at sanitation and meatpacking plants. This exploitation of children is an abhorrent practice that violates SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Legislation Highlights

• Require federal contractors to disclose any child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act to the Department of Labor.
• Criminalize a federal contractor’s failure to make required disclosures.
• Render repeat offenders ineligible for federal contracts for a period of 4 years.

Read the full bill text here.

Statements from Senators Hawley and Booker

“Child labor is an abomination and it has no place in our country. Companies that illegally employ children must be held accountable—especially those that contract with the federal government. This bipartisan legislation requires federal contractors to root out child labor in their operations and has the teeth to go after those who don’t comply,” said Senator Hawley.

“Exploitation of children by big corporations to drive profit is an abhorrent practice, but is not a new one. Across the country, major corporations are relying on children to clean dangerous machinery, handle toxic chemicals, and work exhausting overnight shifts in their facilities for low wages and no benefits. Often, this work is done in violation of existing federal labor laws, but employers have shielded themselves from any accountability by relying on third-party vendors with long records of labor infractions. Despite efforts by Congress and this Administration to challenge these bad practices, too few companies have taken significant steps to address the ongoing child labor issues in their facilities. That’s why today I am joining Senator Hawley to say that, at a bare minimum, there is no reason that the federal government should contract with companies violating child labor law. We must ensure that federal contracts support good-paying jobs and do not benefit corporations that continue to rely on children working in dangerous environments,” said Senator Booker.

Senator Hawley’s Actions

Senator Hawley has been actively addressing the issue of child labor exploitation. He recently questioned Robin Dunn Marcos, Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, about the 85,000 children the Biden Administration has lost track of, leaving them vulnerable to human traffickers and dangerous child labor practices. Additionally, he sent a letter to Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King, demanding answers after a report exposed unsafe, illegal child-labor practices within the company. Earlier this year, Senator Hawley introduced the

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. Targets Identified:

• 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 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

3. Indicators:

• No specific indicators are mentioned in the article.

The article discusses the introduction of the Preventing Child Labor Exploitation Act by Senators Josh Hawley and Cory Booker. This legislation aims to address the issue of child labor exploitation in the United States. The act requires federal contractors to disclose any child labor violations, criminalizes failure to make required disclosures, and renders repeat offenders ineligible for federal contracts for a period of 4 years.

Based on the content of the article, the following SDGs can be identified:

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – This goal is relevant as it focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The issue of child labor exploitation directly relates to the target of eradicating forced labor, ending modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminating the worst forms of child labor (Target 8.7).
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – This goal is relevant as it aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The issue of child labor exploitation is connected to the target of ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children (Target 16.2).

Unfortunately, the article does not mention any specific indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, the legislation introduced by Senators Hawley and Booker can be seen as a step towards achieving these targets by addressing child labor exploitation and holding companies accountable for their actions.

4. Table:

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Source: hawley.senate.gov

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