Several variables have come together to cause the alarming increase in child labour in the US, as revealed in a compelling research paper from the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School. Given the significant increase in the number of unaccompanied adolescents, the challenges in the labour market following the pandemic, and the heavy dependence on contracted workforces, the issue of child labour has become urgent and requires immediate attention.
The idea that such practices are no longer prevalent is cast into doubt by recent studies, as seen in the work of Professor David Weil, which have found a troubling upsurge in child labour within American corporations. This blog post delves into the concerning convergence of several factors, including the plight of unaccompanied minors waiting for asylum decisions, the scarcity of workers following the pandemic, and the prevalence of failed business models that rely on outsourcing.
Data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour division shows an alarming surge, with nearly 5,800 youngsters found engaged in violation of federal child labour rules in fiscal year 2023. Alarming numbers, indeed. This is a massive jump from prior years, which makes one wonder how widespread the problem is and how difficult it is for regulatory agencies to address.
The current upsurge in child labour breaches goes beyond traditional sectors like retail and restaurants. Concerning instances include industries like meatpacking, car manufacture, packaged food, and seafood processing where youngsters as young as fourteen years old are exposed to harmful environments, chemicals, and machines.
An unprecedented case that took place in February 2023 resulted in the imposition of record fines of $1.5 million on a cleaning contractor that provided services to large meatpacking plants. During the course of the investigation, serious violations were discovered, one of which comprised the employment of children to clean hazardous machines utilizing chemicals. Identical revelations were made in factories that manufactured automobiles, factories that manufactured packaged foods, and facilities that processed seafood.
"We tend to think of child labor in factories as a thing of the past. However, child labor in the U.S. is surging with recent investigations and reporting finding violations in meat processing, automobile, packaged food and seafood manufacturing.”
— David Weil, author, “This Ancient Atrocity”: The Return of Child Labor in the United States: Why Now? What Should be Done?
A significant element that contributes to the precarious position of child labourers is the increasing number of unaccompanied youngsters who are waiting for judgements regarding their asylum status in the United States. Because of the breakdown in the processes for assessing these children before placing them in homes, there is now a pool of young people who are anxious to provide for themselves and their families while they are going through the process of obtaining asylum.
A holistic strategy, including legislative changes under the Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA), is necessary to address this concerning trend. Possible changes to the Fair Labour Standards Act (FLSA) and actions under current federal laws can be investigated in order to safeguard the rights of vulnerable child workers and forestall further infractions.
The alarming resurgence of child labour in American factories demands immediate action to end this intolerable practice. These heinous infractions call into question the efficacy of current safeguards meant to keep minors out of the workforce.
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