New US Labor Secretary, Congress Should Act on Child Labor – Human Rights Watch

President Trump’s Pick to Lead US Department of Labor Must Address Hazardous Child Labor

President Trump’s pick to lead the United States Department of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, will soon oversee the federal government’s response to labor rights issues across the US. One of her key priorities should be taking action to end hazardous child labor.

Increasing Incidents of Hazardous Child Labor

• Investigative reports have revealed instances of children working harrowing overnight shifts in slaughterhouses and using wildly dangerous machinery in auto body plants.
• In October 2024, the Department of Labor reported an 88 percent increase in child labor violations since 2019.

Hazardous Child Labor on US Farms

• Research conducted by my colleagues and I has highlighted hazardous child labor on US farms, where children work exhausting 12-hour shifts in the heat and are exposed to toxic pesticides and other dangers.
• While hiring children for hazardous work in meatpacking plants and factories is illegal, most of the dangerous child labor observed on farms remains unregulated.

Weak Labor Laws and Enforcement

• Under US labor law, children of any age can work on small farms. At 12, children can work on any-sized farms with parental permission as long as they do not miss school. At 16, children can engage in hazardous work on farms, while in other sectors, the minimum age for hazardous work is 18.
• The Biden administration has increased child labor enforcement, but the Trump administration’s cuts to federal personnel and budgets may hinder these efforts. Additionally, enforcement alone is insufficient when the laws themselves are inadequate to protect children from danger.

Marginalization of Children Involved in Hazardous Child Labor

• The Trump administration’s immigration policies further marginalize children engaged in hazardous child labor, as many of them are the children of immigrants. Unaccompanied migrant youth are also at risk.
• Immigration raids create a climate of fear that enables workplace exploitation and discourages the reporting of abuse, especially for children.

The Role of Congress

• Sens. Cory Booker and Josh Hawley have reintroduced bipartisan legislation aiming to hold companies with federal contracts accountable for child labor in their operations. Congress should pass this bill and strengthen legal protections for children involved in child labor.

Children’s health, lives, and futures are at stake.

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

The issue of hazardous child labor is directly connected to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Ending hazardous child labor is an important aspect of achieving decent work and economic growth.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The article mentions that most child farmworkers interviewed were the children of immigrants. This highlights the connection to SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries. The issue of child labor in this context is linked to the inequalities faced by immigrant communities.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article mentions the need to end abuse, exploitation, and violence against children involved in hazardous child labor. This aligns with SDG 16, which 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.

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, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.

The article highlights the need to take action to end hazardous child labor. This aligns with Target 8.7, which specifically addresses the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. The target also aims to end child labor in all its forms by 2025.

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 article mentions the marginalization of children involved in hazardous child labor, particularly those who are children of immigrants. This connects to Target 10.7, which aims to facilitate safe and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through well-managed migration policies.

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

The article emphasizes the need to end abuse, exploitation, and violence against children involved in hazardous child labor. This aligns with Target 16.2, which specifically addresses the goal of ending all forms of violence against children.

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

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, the indicators provided below are relevant to the issues discussed and can be used to measure progress:

Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group (in accordance with the International Labour Organization Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor).

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 8.7, as it focuses on the proportion and number of children engaged in child labor. It provides a quantitative measure of the extent of child labor and can help track progress in reducing and eliminating it.

Indicator 10.7.1: Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of monthly income earned in the country of destination.

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 10.7, as it focuses on the recruitment cost borne by employees. It provides a measure of the financial burden faced by migrants and can help assess the effectiveness of migration policies in ensuring safe and responsible migration.

Indicator 16.2.3: Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18.

This indicator can be used to measure progress towards Target 16.2, as it focuses on the proportion of young women and men who have experienced sexual violence. While not directly mentioned in the article, it is relevant to the broader issue of ending abuse and exploitation of children involved in hazardous labor.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hrw.org