Missouri Republican moves to loosen child labor laws, calls children “lazy”
Missouri Republican Moves to Loosen Child Labor Laws, Calls Children 'Lazy' Newsweek
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A Missouri Republican Advocates Loosening Child Labor Laws
In 2023, the Department of Labor announced plans to crack down on child labor amid a surge in violations after several states loosened workplace protections. This week, Missouri state Representative Cheri Toalson Reisch, speaking in favor of a bill that would change a requirement for children under 16 to get a certificate from their school before getting a work permit, said: “At what point are people going to be self-responsible? Some people seem to think the government is the answer to everything.”
Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
“These young kids need to be taught self-responsibility,” she continued. “And I can tell you my personal story. I started working at age 9. And I continued to work throughout high school when I was 14, 15.”
Reisch said having a job did not affect her education and that she graduated from high school early. She added: “You know what these kids of today are? Majority of them are lazy. They don’t know what work ethic is. But they know how to play video games all night. They know how to join gangs. They know how to get into trouble. Get a job and be responsible. Vote yes.”
The Missouri Law and Proposed Changes
The Missouri law requiring children under the age of 16 to obtain a certificate issued by their school to get a work permit mainly applies to 14- and 15-year-olds, as children under the age of 14 are generally not allowed to work. The new bill would require only a parent or guardian to sign a permission slip for the employer.
Image of the Missouri State Capitol
The bill to change the permission requirement is sponsored by Republican state Representative Dave Hinman, who told the Missouri Independent that he believed schools shouldn’t play a role in the process. Critics of the Missouri bill say removing the permit requirement may lead to children being exploited.
Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
“We need to be careful because at the same time that [some states are] doing this, weakening restrictions, we’re seeing an increase in child labor violations and some really bad cases over the last few years,” John Fliter, an associate professor of political science at Kansas State University who studies child labor, told the Missouri Independent. He added that the school certificates created a record of employers acknowledging they would follow the law and allowed schools to play a “supervisory role” to ensure that children’s employment did not have a negative effect on their education.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
-
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: Number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment
-
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: Proportion and number of children engaged in child labor
Analysis
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
1. SDG 4: Quality Education
The article discusses a proposed bill in Missouri that would change the requirement for children under 16 to obtain a certificate from their school before getting a work permit. This proposed change is seen as a way to teach children self-responsibility. SDG 4 aims to provide quality education and ensure that youth have relevant skills for employment. The proposed change in the law may impact the education of children by allowing them to work at a younger age without the need for school approval.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
The article mentions the surge in violations of child labor laws after several states loosened workplace protections. It also highlights the criticism that removing the permit requirement may lead to children being exploited. SDG 8 targets the eradication of forced labor, including child labor. The proposed changes in child labor laws may have implications for the protection of children’s rights and their well-being in the workplace.
3. Indicators
The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but it implies indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment (Indicator for SDG 4)
- Proportion and number of children engaged in child labor (Indicator for SDG 8)
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| 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 youth and adults with relevant skills for employment |
| 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. | Proportion and number of children engaged in child labor |
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: newsweek.com
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