Louisiana Republicans vote to end lunch breaks for child workers
Louisiana Republicans vote to end lunch breaks for child workers MSNBC
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Republican Efforts to Roll Back Child Labor Laws
Introduction
- It has become increasingly challenging to keep track of the numerous Republican efforts in recent years to roll back child labor laws.
- The Guardian reported that GOP policymakers at the state level have been leading these efforts, with bills introduced in at least 16 states.
Variations in Measures
- Republican measures differ across states, with some aiming to scrap age verification requirements for employers, while others want minors to be able to serve alcohol.
- A Washington Post report highlighted proposals by state GOP officials to allow children as young as 14 to work certain jobs in meatpacking plants and shield businesses from civil liability if a child laborer is sickened.
Current Developments in Louisiana
A recent report from NoLa.com revealed a striking development in Louisiana.
A Louisiana House committee voted Thursday to repeal a law requiring employers to give child workers lunch breaks and to cut unemployment benefits — part of a push by Republicans to remove constraints on employers and reduce aid for injured and unemployed workers.
With Republicans now controlling all levers of power in Louisiana, Republican Governor Jeff Landry directed officials to “reform” the state’s business environment.
Republican state Rep. Roger Wilder, who owns smoothie franchises, is championing a proposal to scrap lunch break requirements for child workers, claiming that many of his child employees want to work without breaks.
Implications and Influences
While the bill has passed a state legislative committee and is headed to the state House floor in Louisiana, it has not yet become law.
However, the bigger picture shows a clear trend of Republican governance at the state level increasingly rolling back child labor safeguards.
The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) and its lobbying arm, the Opportunity Solutions Project, have played a significant role in maneuvering these changes through state legislatures.
The Florida-based think tank and its lobbying arm, the Opportunity Solutions Project, have found remarkable success among Republicans to relax regulations that prevent children from working long hours in dangerous conditions. And they are gaining traction at a time the Biden administration is scrambling to enforce existing labor protections for children. … Since 2016, the FGA’s Opportunity Solutions Project has hired 115 lobbyists across the country with a presence in 22 states, according to the nonpartisan political watchdog group OpenSecrets.
Given this context, it is unlikely that these measures will disappear anytime soon.
Conclusion
Republican efforts to roll back child labor laws pose significant challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to child protection and well-being.
This ongoing trend necessitates continued monitoring and advocacy to ensure the protection of children’s rights and their access to safe and healthy working environments.
This post updates our related earlier coverage.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article
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 10: Reduced Inequalities
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 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.
- SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 8.7: Number of children engaged in child labor.
- Indicator for SDG 4.4: Percentage of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment.
- Indicator for SDG 10.2: Proportion of population by age group, sex, disability status, and other relevant characteristics.
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. | Indicator: Number of children engaged in child labor. |
| 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: Percentage of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Indicator: Proportion of population by age group, sex, disability status, and other relevant characteristics. |
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Source: msnbc.com
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