The Federal Retreat on Child Labor Enforcement Threatens America’s Children – otherwords.org

Report on the Decline of Child Labor Enforcement in the United States and Its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Recent analyses indicate a significant decline in child labor enforcement in the United States, coinciding with a period when stronger protections are critically needed. This report highlights the reduction in enforcement activities, legislative trends, and the consequences for young workers, emphasizing the implications for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Decline in Enforcement Activities

1. According to Good Jobs First, enforcement cases for workplace violations dropped by 97% in the last year.
2. The Child Labor Coalition reported only two press releases on child labor enforcement in the first year of the Trump administration, compared to an average of two per month under the previous administration.
3. The Trump administration planned closures of 21 offices within the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division and reduced staff responsible for enforcing federal child labor laws.
4. Prior to these cuts, there was already a shortage of inspectors, with only one inspector for every 202,000 workers.

Legislative Trends and State-Level Challenges

• Twenty-eight states introduced bills aimed at weakening child labor protections in recent years, contributing to a 283% increase in child labor violations between 2015 and 2023.
• Some states, including Iowa and California, have experienced weakened enforcement and oversight, allowing dangerous child labor practices to persist.
• In Iowa, only 77 child labor investigations were conducted in 2024, with minimal penalties issued despite serious incidents, including a fatality.
• California’s agricultural sector suffers from understaffed enforcement agencies, with very few citations issued and a majority of fines uncollected over eight years.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The weakening of child labor protections and enforcement undermines several key SDGs:

• SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: The decline in enforcement allows exploitative labor practices to flourish, denying children safe and fair working conditions.
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Exposure to hazardous work environments, such as toxic pesticides and unsafe machinery, jeopardizes the health of young workers.
• SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Reduced accountability and enforcement weaken institutions tasked with protecting vulnerable populations, including children.

Recommendations for Policy and Legislative Action

1. Congress should pass the bipartisan Justice for Exploited Children Act to establish minimum monetary penalties and increase overall penalties for violations.
2. Additional legislation such as the Children Don’t Belong on Tobacco Farms Act and the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety should be enacted to close protection gaps for farmworker children.
3. States are encouraged to strengthen, rather than weaken, child labor protections. Recent positive examples include Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, Virginia, and Utah.
4. Federal enforcement must be restored and adequately resourced to provide a baseline of protection nationwide.

Conclusion

The current trajectory of reduced enforcement and legislative rollbacks poses significant risks to the well-being and rights of child workers in the United States. Strengthening child labor protections aligns with the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals and is essential to safeguarding the future of America’s youth. Elected officials at all levels must prioritize and build upon recent progress to ensure children nationwide are protected from exploitation and hazardous labor conditions.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article focuses on child labor protections, workplace violations, and enforcement of labor laws, which directly relate to promoting decent work conditions and economic growth.
2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The weakening of enforcement mechanisms and reduction in labor inspections reflect challenges in building effective, accountable institutions and ensuring justice.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Exposure of child workers to hazardous conditions such as toxic pesticides and unsafe work environments implicates health and well-being concerns.
4. SDG 1: No Poverty
   • Child labor often correlates with poverty; the article’s discussion of exploitation and low wages connects to efforts to eradicate poverty.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 8 – 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.
2. SDG 8 – Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers and those in precarious employment.
3. SDG 16 – Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
4. SDG 3 – Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
5. SDG 1 – Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children living in poverty in all its dimensions.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Number of enforcement cases for workplace violations: The article cites a 97% decline in enforcement cases, indicating this as a key indicator of labor law enforcement effectiveness.
2. Frequency of child labor investigations: The number of investigations conducted by state agencies (e.g., 77 investigations in Iowa) serves as an indicator of enforcement activity.
3. Number and amount of civil monetary penalties issued: The article mentions only four penalties totaling $36,350 in Iowa, and 27 citations in California, with most fines uncollected, indicating enforcement strength.
4. Incidence of child labor violations: The 283% increase in violations between 2015 and 2023 signals worsening conditions and can be tracked over time.
5. Workplace safety and health conditions: Exposure to toxic pesticides, lack of shade and water breaks, and below minimum wage earnings are qualitative indicators of unsafe and exploitative work environments.
6. Staffing levels of enforcement agencies: The number of inspectors per workers (e.g., one inspector for every 202,000 workers) reflects institutional capacity to enforce labor laws.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: otherwords.org