US Department of Labor announces collaboration with New York to promote labor law compliance, child labor enforcement – US Department of Labor

Date of Action:

Oct. 3, 2024

Participants:

• U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
• New York State Department of Labor, Division of Labor Standards

Purpose:

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Labor Standards announced a new collaboration designed to help employers comply with labor laws with a focus on child labor enforcement. The partnership will allow the agencies to effectively and efficiently communicate and cooperate on areas of common interest, share training materials, conduct joint investigations, and share information to encourage enhanced law enforcement.

Background:

The department’s Wage and Hour Division enforces the federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The New York Division of Labor Standards is responsible for administering the state labor law provisions relating to minimum wages, overtime, unpaid agreed wages, unpaid agreed wage supplements, child labor, illegal industrial homework, the garment industry, equal pay, day of rest, meal periods, restrictions on consecutive hours of work for nurses, and related provisions.

Duration:

The agreement will expire five years from October 3, 2024.

Quote:

“At the Wage and Hour Division, protecting the most vulnerable workers in our country, our children, is our top priority,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Michael Milazzo in Albany, New York. “We are intent upon uncovering and pursuing child labor law violators. Working with our state partners in this effort is just one of many tools we utilize in promoting and achieving compliance of labor laws.”

“Ensuring young people are protected in the workplace is a top priority,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Violating labor laws is unacceptable, and it’s particularly egregious when it involves vulnerable workers who are just entering the workforce. NYSDOL is enhancing our strong collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor to help employers comply with labor laws focused on keeping children safe in the workplace. This is essential to empowering and protecting New York’s workforce, and we are a proud partner in this ongoing endeavor.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. 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.

2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in all countries, in particular developing countries.
   • Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The article discusses a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and the New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Labor Standards. This collaboration aims to help employers comply with labor laws, with a specific focus on child labor enforcement. This aligns with SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Target 8.7 of SDG 8 specifically addresses the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, which is relevant to the issues discussed in the article.

The article does not explicitly mention the indicator for Target 8.7 (Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group). However, the collaboration between the two labor departments indicates a commitment to addressing child labor and enforcing labor laws, which can contribute to progress towards this indicator.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article highlights the partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division and the New York State Department of Labor’s Division of Labor Standards. This partnership aims to enhance cooperation, communication, and law enforcement efforts related to labor laws, including child labor. This aligns with SDG 17, which emphasizes the importance of partnerships for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Target 17.16 of SDG 17 specifically focuses on enhancing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development through multi-stakeholder partnerships. The collaboration between the two labor departments exemplifies such a partnership.

The article does not explicitly mention the indicator for Target 17.16 (Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals). However, the collaboration between the U.S. and New York State labor departments demonstrates a commitment to working together and sharing information to achieve common goals, which aligns with the spirit of this indicator.

Source: dol.gov