US cracks down on child labour violations amid loosening laws
US cracks down on child labour violations amid loosening laws Al Jazeera English
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The United States Department of Labor Cracks Down on Child Labor Violations
The United States Department of Labor has reached an agreement with a food company after two children were discovered operating meat-processing equipment, in violation of federal law. The agreement, announced on Friday, is the latest in the department’s crackdown on child labor violations, which have surged in recent years, as several states move to loosen workplace protections for youths.
Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
“The Department of Labor and the Biden-Harris administration see child labor as a scourge in this country and will not tolerate violations of child labor laws,” Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said in Friday’s press release, underscoring President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on the issue.
The company in question, Monogram Meat Snacks, will be fined $30,276 in civil money penalties for employing “at least two 16- and 17-year-old children” at its plant in Chandler, Minnesota.
The legislature in Minnesota is among the estimated 14 state governments that have considered relaxing child labor laws over the past two years, with some like Iowa and Arkansas successfully passing measures.
Relaxed Child Labor Laws Raise Concerns
- Iowa’s new standards also permit children younger than 16 to work up to six hours during school days, up from the previous cap of four hours.
- Wisconsin is among the states that recently weighed lifting some of its child labor restrictions. Legislation introduced in May would permit children as young as 14 to serve alcohol in restaurants, down from the current age limit of 18.
- One of the bill’s sponsors, state Senator Rob Stafsholt, told the Washington Post that the bill was inspired, in part, by worker shortages during the religious observance of Lent.
Risks and Consequences
Earlier this month, a 16-year-old boy died from his injuries after a workplace incident at a sawmill in Florence County, Wisconsin. Critics of loosened child labor laws warn the risks could disproportionately fall on migrant youth.
But Marty Walsh, who stepped down this year as US secretary of labor, argued that more protections, not less, are needed to prevent workplace abuses and risks to child safety.
Current Situation and Call for Action
At the time, the Labor Department found a 69 percent uptick in the illegal employment of children in US workplaces. In 2022 alone, a total of 3,876 children were found to be working illegally, with 688 employed in violation of hazardous occupation standards. Over 600 investigations were also underway to suss out other potential violations. The department noted that migrant children were particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
“This is not a 19th-century problem — this is a today problem,” Walsh said at the time. “We need Congress to come to the table, we need states to come to the table.”
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
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 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.
- SDG 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 8.7: Number of children engaged in child labor in hazardous work.
- Indicator for SDG 10.7: Number of cases of child labor exploitation in migration contexts.
- Indicator for SDG 16.2: Number of reported cases of child labor abuse and exploitation.
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: Number of children engaged in child labor in hazardous work. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 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. | Indicator: Number of cases of child labor exploitation in migration contexts. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Indicator: Number of reported cases of child labor abuse and exploitation. |
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDGs 8, 10, and 16. SDG 8 focuses on decent work and economic growth, which includes eradicating forced labor and child labor. SDG 10 aims to reduce inequalities, including addressing child labor exploitation in migration contexts. SDG 16 aims to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions, including ending abuse, exploitation, and violence against children.
Based on the article’s content, specific targets under these SDGs can be identified. SDG 8.7 calls for immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery, and eliminate the worst forms of child labor. SDG 10.7 aims to facilitate safe and responsible migration, including addressing child labor exploitation in migration contexts. SDG 16.2 seeks to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children.
The article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these targets. For SDG 8.7, the indicator is the number of children engaged in child labor in hazardous work. For SDG 10.7, the indicator is the number of cases of child labor exploitation in migration contexts. For SDG 16.2, the indicator is the number of reported cases of child labor abuse and exploitation.
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Source: aljazeera.com
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