Labor Department cracks down on child labor while states loosen laws
Labor Department cracks down on child labor while states loosen laws The Hill
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Labor Department cracks down on child labor while states loosen laws
The Department of Labor is cracking down on child labor violations even as multiple states have taken steps to loosen regulations around teenagers in the workplace.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The issue of child labor and the regulations surrounding it align with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
State Efforts to Loosen Child Labor Laws
At least 11 states have recently sought to make it easier to get minors in the workforce. For example, both Arkansas and Iowa have passed laws allowing teenagers to work in various industries and lowering the minimum age for certain jobs.
Benefits and Concerns
Proponents of these changes argue that they help young workers acquire valuable life skills and believe that parents should have the authority to decide when their children are ready for specific jobs. However, child advocates express concerns about placing teenagers in potentially dangerous work environments that are difficult to regulate and may be prone to exploitation.
Department of Labor’s Actions
The Department of Labor and its Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation have announced new actions to address the rise in child labor violations. The department found that child labor violations increased by 69% between 2018 and last year. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su emphasized the importance of protecting children from dangerous or hazardous work environments.
Impact on Vulnerable Teen Workers
The changes to child labor laws coincide with a tight labor market and a workers shortage. Advocates for child labor regulations argue that weakening protections against child labor disproportionately affects vulnerable teen workers. They believe that balancing the labor shortage with the well-being of young workers is not a valid reason for loosening regulations.
Concerns about Exploitation
The increase in child labor violations, combined with the changes to state laws, has raised concerns about the potential for exploitation. Experts warn that poor children, children of color, and undocumented children may be more likely to take these jobs out of necessity, putting them at risk of unsafe and age-inappropriate work.
Collaborative Efforts
The Department of Labor plans to partner with other government offices and agencies to combat child labor exploitation. They will provide training on identifying and reporting instances of child labor violations and update guidelines. Additionally, they will work with the Department of Agriculture to address illegal child labor in the meat and poultry industry.
Addressing Unaccompanied Minors
Experts attribute the increase in child labor violations to the influx of unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. These vulnerable young people often need money and may be sending remittances to their families in Central America and Mexico. Efforts will be made to collaborate with embassies and educate migrants about child labor issues.
Protecting Children’s Rights
Advocates for child labor regulations emphasize the importance of protecting children’s rights and ensuring their safety and development. They argue that child labor laws serve a crucial purpose in preventing children from working in dangerous jobs and interfering with their education.
Conclusion
The debate over child labor laws and their enforcement reflects the ongoing challenge of balancing economic needs with the well-being and rights of young workers. Efforts to address child labor violations and strengthen regulations align with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to education, decent work, reduced inequalities, and strong institutions.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 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 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Child labor violations have risen 69 percent between 2018 and last year.
- 765 child labor cases were concluded between Oct. 1 and July 20, with 4,474 children employed in violation of federal standards.
- Federal investigators found one instance in which the owner of six Nevada Sonic locations had committed more than 170 child labor violations.
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. | – Child labor violations have risen 69 percent between 2018 and last year. – 765 child labor cases were concluded between Oct. 1 and July 20, with 4,474 children employed in violation of federal standards. – Federal investigators found one instance in which the owner of six Nevada Sonic locations had committed more than 170 child labor violations. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies. | – The increase in child labor violations combined with the changes to state laws have concerned advocates who are afraid the problem will only get worse. – The U.S. will be working with the embassies of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to take steps to combat child labor and educate migrants on the problem. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | – The Department of Labor and its Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation announced new actions it will take after finding that child labor violations have risen. – In one tragic case, a 16-year-old boy from Guatemala was killed in an on-the-job accident at a Mississippi poultry plant. |
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Source: thehill.com
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