Ortega Announces New Law to Prevent Child Labor Exploitation

A new law to prevent child labor exploitation

A new law was signed over the weekend to prevent child labor exploitation.

Introduction

California high school students will learn about their rights at work and how to defend themselves against workplace abuses under a first-of-its-kind law just signed by Governor Gavin Newsom over the weekend.

AB 800: Workplace Readiness Week

AB 800, authored by Assemblymember Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro), creates a Workplace Readiness Week at all public high schools to teach students about their workplace rights, protections for minors on the job, and how to join or start a union. The Governor announced the law’s passage on Saturday.

Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The law aims to provide essential education to youth about their rights at work, empowering them with information and tools they need to understand their rights as workers.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – By teaching students about workplace rights and protections, the law aims to protect young workers against workplace abuses, such as wage theft, unsafe conditions, sexual harassment, and discrimination.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The law addresses the issue of inequality by ensuring that all high school students, regardless of their background, receive education about their workplace rights.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The law promotes justice and strong institutions by holding employers accountable for workplace abuses and providing students with the knowledge to demand safety and fair treatment.

Impact of the Law

“I am so proud to announce the passage of this first-of-its-kind law requiring schools to teach our kids about their workplace rights,” said Assemblymember Ortega. “We are seeing headlines about children abused at workplaces across the country―wage theft, violations of labor law, and even serious life-changing injuries. As Republicans in other states are working hard to put our children in harm’s way, California is giving kids the tools to stand up for themselves.”

Despite an uptick in reports of serious workplace injuries and abuse involving minors, a number of Republican-controlled states have passed laws loosening protections for minors. Arkansas and Iowa recently lowered the age at which minors can legally work. In those states, children as young as 14 can now legally work in meat coolers and industrial laundries, and 15-year-olds may work on assembly lines.

Statistics on Youth Employment

About 55% of US teens are employed. They are more concentrated in fields where wage theft is common and are more likely to be seriously injured while working with machinery. In 2021, 109 teenagers died from work-related injuries in the United States. That same year, over 33,000 teens suffered workplace injuries so severe that they needed to go to the emergency room.

Importance of Teaching Youth about Workplace Rights

“Youth are having their wages stolen and being seriously injured at work because they don’t know that they have a right to demand safety and hold their employers accountable,” continued Asm. Ortega. “Teaching our youth about their rights at work is essential education―and it could save their lives.”

“Too often, young workers face wage theft, unsafe conditions, sexual harassment or other abuses at work,” said Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, chief officer of the California Labor Federation. “By requiring that high school students be taught their rights as employees, AB 800 empowers young people with the information and tools they need to understand their rights as workers and protects them against workplace abuses.”

Wage Theft and Workplace Abuses

In 2021, California workers filed nearly 19,000 claims for unpaid wages totaling more than $338 million in stolen wages. The fields in which young people tend to be concentrated – food service, retail, childcare, office support – account for almost half (44.2%) of those wage theft claims. These jobs also have high rates of sexual harassment, abuse from management or clientele, discrimination, and serious injury.

About Assemblymember Liz Ortega

Assemblymember Liz Ortega is a member of the Assembly Committees on Higher Education, Insurance, Labor and Employment, Public Safety and Rules. She represents the 20th Assembly District, encompassing all or a portion of the cities of Hayward, San Leandro, Union City, Dublin, Pleasanton and the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets identified are:

– Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles.

– 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.

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 related to the identified targets. However, Indicator 4.7.1 can be used to measure progress towards Target 4.7, which assesses the extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in national education policies, curricula, teacher education, and student assessment. Additionally, Indicator 8.7.1 can be used to measure progress towards Target 8.7, which measures the proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor in all its forms.

Overall, the article highlights the importance of educating high school students about their workplace rights and protections against workplace abuses, which aligns with SDG 4 and SDG 8. The specific targets identified emphasize the need for quality education and the eradication of child labor.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: contracosta.news

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