Some states relaxing child labor laws to boost economy, Oklahoma advocates say that is not a solution
Some states relaxing child labor laws to boost economy, Oklahoma advocates say that is not a solution KTUL
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American Families Struggle to Make Ends Meet Amid Relaxation of Child Labor Laws
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) —
Many American families are facing financial difficulties as their expenses often exceed their income. In an attempt to find a solution, some states have begun to relax child labor laws.
Exploring Workforce Expansion
Representative Judd Strom from District 10 in Oklahoma stated, “In Oklahoma, we’ve been looking at every way we can expand our workforce or workforce development. And in other states, we have seen them look at those labor laws.”
One of the most recent examples of this trend is Arkansas, a neighboring state to Oklahoma. Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, explained, “Arkansas went through and significantly lessened the restrictions on children working. They’ve said this is a benefit to some families that can have more family members working, especially lower-income families.”
Dorman further emphasized the importance of examining this issue due to the proximity of Arkansas to Oklahoma. He testified at an interim study on child labor laws hosted by Rep. Strom and Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborne.
The Current Situation in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, the current minimum age for employment is 14.
However, advocates and lawmakers in Oklahoma are strongly opposed to relaxing child labor laws. They argue that allowing young children to work more days, longer hours, and/or at a younger age is not a viable solution.
Dorman expressed concern about the potential consequences, stating, “We fear that there will be more children entering the workforce to help families cover their monthly bills, which is happening all across the nation, including here in Oklahoma. By having these kids contribute to the family’s finances, it puts them at risk of not being able to complete their studies, do their schoolwork, and essentially be a kid preparing for adulthood. The long-term outcome of this is much more harmful for our society and these children.”
Rep. Strom echoed these concerns, saying, “We don’t want to find ourselves in a situation in this state where we have 10th graders opting out of school to join the workforce and then getting stuck in a lower income bracket for the rest of their lives.”
Exploring Alternatives
Instead of relaxing labor laws, the interim study revealed the need for alternative solutions.
Dorman suggested, “Making sure there’s a livable wage for individuals so they can pay their bills and have their kids go to school. We need to assess everything that is going on in our economy right now and provide support for these families.”
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