United States: Child labour and exploitation on the rise
United States: Child labour and exploitation on the rise Green Left
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A 16-year-old boy dies at a sawmill in Wisconsin
A 16-year-old boy named Michael Schuls tragically lost his life on July 6 at a sawmill in Wisconsin, United States. The incident occurred while he was attempting to unjam a wood-stacking machine. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, Schuls became trapped in the machine when the conveyor belt he was standing on moved. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries two days later.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is currently investigating the incident.
Child labour laws loosened
Tragically, such workplace fatalities involving children are becoming more frequent as states relax child labour laws that have been in place for 80 years. The aim of these changes is to exploit child labour, particularly in industries where unions are absent. These children often come from impoverished working-class families, where their wages supplement the household income.
Currently, fourteen states in the country, including Wisconsin, have proposed new legislation to roll back long-standing child labour protections. Most of these states are governed by anti-union Republican governors and Republican-dominated state legislatures.
Wisconsin had a Republican governor and legislature until 2019. In 2015, the state implemented anti-union “right to work” laws that made it more challenging for unions to form and protect public sector workers. Republicans also pushed for changes to child labour restrictions in the state.
In 2019, Tony Evers, a Democratic governor, was elected in Wisconsin. Last year, he vetoed legislation that would have modified the laws limiting the number of hours teenagers can work.
However, the resistance against these right-wing policies and employers has not been strong enough or broad-based. It has primarily relied on liberal elected officials.
Historical roots of the latest push
The Economic Policy Institute states that there is currently a coordinated effort across multiple industries to expand employer access to low-wage labor and weaken state child labor laws, contradicting federal protections.
According to Skip Mark, a professor of labor and human rights, child labor is prevalent in the country’s agricultural industry.
In many ways, the current push by employers mirrors the situation in the late 1800s. When the US census began including children in employment statistics in 1870, it revealed that 75,000 children under the age of 15 were working, not including those employed in family businesses or on family farms.
During the 1870s, child labor increased significantly with the advent of the industrial revolution. Children worked in agriculture and new factories in urban areas. The exploitation of children between the ages of 5 and 14, along with the numerous injuries and deaths they suffered on the job, sparked public outrage.
From the late 1800s until the 1930s, workers started organizing unions in various industries, including railways. These new industrial organizations, which engaged in organizing and striking against employers, struck fear into the capitalist class.
As a response, Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt’s government enacted favorable labor laws, including some child labor protections.
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 played a crucial role in limiting child labor in many ways, according to Mark. However, it did not apply to the agricultural sector, where most child labor, injuries, and deaths occur.
Mark also highlighted that government estimates regarding the prevalence of child labor should not be taken at face value, as governments do not want to report the extent of the problem. Businesses are also reluctant to report employing children due to potential fines, and children and their parents do not want to report child labor because they rely on these jobs.
Terri Gerstein, the director of the Harvard Law School Center for Labor and a Just Economy, emphasized the need for funding enforcement, higher penalties, and clear ways to hold lead corporations accountable for violations in their supply chains in order to effectively combat child labor.
Unions must take action
Official union confederations have historically supported restrictions on child labor. The American Federation of Labor (AFL) passed a resolution at its first convention in 1881, calling for states to prohibit children under 14 from engaging in any gainful employment. However, preserving these child labor protections has not been a priority for the modern labor movement.
It is crucial for organized labor to move beyond mere lip service and take concrete action. Most working people are unaware of the issue of child labor and its connection to other attacks on the working class.
Hopefully, the tragic death of the teenager in Wisconsin will serve as a catalyst for raising awareness about this issue and mobilizing the public to put an end to the abuse and exploitation of children.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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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 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group (relevant to child labor issue).
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SDG 1: No Poverty
- Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
- Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions (relevant to child labor issue as it highlights the connection between child labor and poverty).
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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 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill (relevant to child labor issue as lack of education and skills can contribute to child labor).
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| 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 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group (relevant to child labor issue). |
| SDG 1: No Poverty | Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. | Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions (relevant to child labor issue as it highlights the connection between child labor and poverty). |
| 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 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill (relevant to child labor issue as lack of education and skills can contribute to child labor). |
Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 1 (No Poverty), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
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 that can be identified are:
– 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.
– Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
– 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.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
– Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
– Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
– Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill.
These indicators can be used to measure progress towards eradicating child labor, reducing poverty, and increasing relevant skills for employment.
By analyzing the article, we can see that child labor is a prevalent issue in certain industries, especially in states where child labor laws have been loosened. This connects to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and its target to eradicate forced labor and eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The article also highlights the connection between child labor and poverty, which relates to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and its target to reduce poverty in all its dimensions. Additionally, the lack of education and skills is mentioned as a contributing factor to child labor, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and its target to increase relevant skills for employment.
The specific targets identified based on the article’s content are Target 8.7, Target 1.2, and Target 4.4.
The indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards these targets are Indicator 8.7.1, Indicator 1.2.2, and Indicator 4.4.1.
Overall, the article highlights the need for stronger measures to address child labor, reduce poverty, and improve education and skills for young people. By focusing on these issues and tracking progress through
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Source: greenleft.org.au
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