Local View: We can’t let our tragic history with child labor repeat itself

Child Labor in America: A Call for Action

More than 100 years ago, the National Child Labor Committee used photos of children doing industrial work to demand change in America. Several states adopted child-labor laws, and after much debate and several setbacks, the Fair Labor Standards Act became federal law in 1938. Its protections included the nation’s foundational child-labor laws, including restrictions on the age of workers and hours they can toil.

As we reflect on this Labor Day holiday a century later, we must not overlook the recent federal investigation conducted by my staff in the Midwest that found children working overnight to clean a Nebraska meatpacking plant with caustic chemicals and amid razor-sharp cutting machines and tools. Shocking facts reveal the ugly truth that some businesses are still illegally employing young teens and putting them at risk.

Since 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor has seen a 69% increase in children employed in violation of federal child-labor laws. Hard-fought progress made five generations ago to eliminate child-labor exploitation is being undone in cities and communities across the country.

America is better than that.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals

The Fight Against Child Labor Exploitation

In February, the Department of Labor launched an Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation, bringing together federal agencies to improve information-sharing; provide outreach and education to the public; and coordinate efforts to advance the health, education, and well-being of children in the U.S.

The department has launched a National Strategic Enforcement Initiative on child labor and is using all of our enforcement and legal tools to stop companies from profiting illegally on the backs of children by taking violators to court. We also have invoked the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “hot goods” provision to prevent the shipment of goods produced using illegal child labor, and we are scrutinizing labor violations at all steps in industry supply chains.

To strengthen our efforts, our leadership has called on Congress to bolster protections for children and toughen penalties for companies that use child labor, which currently stand at a maximum of just $15,138 per violation. That’s not high enough to be a deterrent for major profitable companies. Further, the Labor Department has requested increased funding for its enforcement agencies to investigate child-labor cases and to expand outreach to employers, workers’ advocacy groups, schools, and other community resources to educate employers and workers on the law.

We cannot put profitability ahead of the physical, emotional, and educational well-being of children. That is not the basis for a sound and just economy. Our job is to make sure a teen’s work experience is positive and safe — and does not endanger them or interfere with their educational opportunities.

We cannot allow children in America to return to laboring in modern-day workhouses. Our national and state leaders must come to the table and work together to prevent the scourge of child labor abuse from again becoming an American-made tragedy.

We cannot build our economy on the backs of children. America was better than that 100 years ago, and America is better than that today.

About the Author

• Name: Michael Lazzeri
• Position: Regional Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division in Chicago
• Region: Includes Minnesota

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 issues highlighted in the article are child labor exploitation and the need to protect children’s well-being and educational opportunities. These issues are connected to SDG 8, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. They are also connected to SDG 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. Additionally, the article mentions the need for stronger penalties for companies that use child labor, which relates to SDG 16’s target of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

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.

The article highlights the need to combat child labor exploitation, which aligns with Target 8.7 of SDG 8. This target specifically addresses the eradication of child labor and the prohibition of its worst forms. The article also emphasizes the importance of protecting children’s educational opportunities, which relates to Target 4.4 of SDG 4. This target focuses on increasing the number of youth with relevant skills for employment and decent jobs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
• Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.

The article mentions the increase in children employed in violation of federal child-labor laws, which can be measured using Indicator 8.7.1 of SDG 8. This indicator measures the proportion and number of children engaged in child labor. Additionally, the article emphasizes the need for relevant skills for employment, which can be measured using Indicator 4.4.1 of SDG 4. This indicator assesses the proportion of youth and adults with ICT skills.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

The table presents the identified SDGs, targets, and indicators based on the analysis of the article. It highlights the relevant SDGs, their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators that can be used to measure progress towards those targets.

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: duluthnewstribune.com

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