Protecting the Future: Combating the Erosion of Child Labor Laws

In a concerning trend, several states across the country have been actively attempting to weaken child labor protections, even as violations of these standards have been on the rise nationally over the past decade. This coordinated multi-industry effort to expand access to low-wage labor has sparked outrage among labor advocates, who argue that the well-being and education of young workers must be the top priority.

Safeguarding the Next Generation: The Urgent Need to Uphold Child Labor Laws

The Alarming Erosion of Child Labor Protections

Experts have been closely monitoring the alarming trend of states attempting to undermine child labor protections. Jennifer Sherer, a representative from the Economic Policy Institute, has expressed grave concerns about this development. "We have been tracking for a couple of years now the alarming trend that there are several states across the country that have actively been attempting to weaken child labor protections just at the same time as violations of child labor standards nationally have been on the rise over the last decade," Sherer said in a phone interview.Sherer's investigation has revealed a troubling pattern. "It's very clear that what's behind this is a coordinated multi-industry attempt to weaken child labor standards and expand employer access to low-wage labor essentially," she explained.

Iowa's Alarming Legislation: A Step Backward for Child Welfare

Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea echoes Sherer's concerns, emphasizing that children should be in the classroom, not the workforce. "I'm (going) to call them student workers, a very, very exploitive population," Drea said. "It doesn't make sense that student workers work past 9 pm. It doesn't make sense that kids should be working more than 20 hours a week."Sherer and Drea both point to Iowa as a prime example of a state moving in the wrong direction. "Iowa has passed the most extreme legislation of any state in the country on child labor in the past year. Opening up hazardous jobs," Sherer said. This includes allowing employers to put 14-year-olds to work in industrial laundries, 15-year-olds on assembly lines, and even requesting state waivers to hire 16-year-olds for federally prohibited occupations such as demolition, roofing, and excavation.Furthermore, Iowa has changed its laws to allow teens aged 16 to serve alcohol and increased the hours that children as young as 14 can work on school nights, despite research demonstrating the negative impact of excessive work hours on academic progress and grades.

The Clash Between State and Federal Regulations

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has taken a defiant stance, calling for the Department of Labor to stop its "crusade" of fining Iowa businesses for using child labor. Reynolds argues that the Department of Labor's approach is outdated and fails to recognize the changing needs of today's workforce.However, Sherer refutes these claims, citing documented cases of meatpacking companies in Iowa employing teenagers on overnight sanitation crews, which the Department of Labor has had to investigate and address. "I think those claims are a little bit hollow," Sherer said.Sherer emphasizes that before last year, Iowa and other states had allowed teenagers aged 14 and up to work in age-appropriate jobs while still being able to finish high school. "The state legislature passed a law that they knew is directly contradicting federal law are doing so pretty boldly and then claiming that the federal guidelines not only shouldn't apply to Iowa businesses but should be eradicated," Sherer said.

Illinois' Response: Modernizing Child Labor Laws

In response to Iowa's actions, Illinois has taken steps to modernize its own child labor laws. Drea explains that the new Illinois law requires teens under 16 to receive a work permit and submit it to their employer. During the summer, teens can work eight hours a day, equaling 48 hours a week. During the school year, teens can work three hours a day up to 24 hours a week and not past 7 p.m., with some exceptions for recreational or educational activities.Sherer emphasizes the importance of work permit systems, as they help to ensure that both employees and employers are informed about the applicable laws and regulations. "States like Iowa, Arkansas, and others who in the past couple of years removed their work permit systems are often leaving people in the dark," Sherer said. "If you don't have to get that piece of paper upfront or get that reminder, you must find that information yourself."

The Nationwide Crackdown on Child Labor Violations

The Department of Labor has been actively investigating child labor violations across the country, with recent findings in states such as California, Utah, Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, New York, Alabama, Iowa, New Hampshire, Maryland, Idaho, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. According to Rhonda Burke, the Deputy Director for Public Affairs at the Department of Labor Midwest Region, these investigations are ongoing in several other states as well.The Department of Labor's efforts to enforce child labor laws and protect young workers are crucial in the face of the coordinated attempts by some states to weaken these protections. By upholding federal guidelines and holding businesses accountable, the Department of Labor aims to ensure that the well-being and education of children remain the top priority.As the debate over child labor laws continues, it is clear that the stakes are high. The future of our workforce and the well-being of our youth depend on the outcome of this critical issue. By standing firm in the defense of child labor protections, we can safeguard the rights and opportunities of the next generation, ensuring they have the chance to thrive both in the classroom and in the workforce.