Child labor still exists both in the United States and globally, despite laws and international efforts to eliminate it.
Child Labor in the United States
- Child labor laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulate and restrict the employment of minors, prohibiting hazardous work for those under 18 and limiting work hours for younger children
- However, violations of these laws are increasing. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor found 955 violations involving nearly 5,800 children, with a 37% increase in minors employed in violation of child labor laws compared to the previous year
- Some states have weakened child labor protections; for example, Iowa passed a law allowing 14-year-olds to work in factories and meatpacking plants, which violates federal regulations
- Hazardous child labor remains a problem, especially in agriculture where children as young as 12 can work long hours with parental consent, and at 16 can perform hazardous farm work, unlike other sectors where the minimum age for hazardous work is 18
- Enforcement efforts have increased under recent administrations, but challenges remain due to weak laws and marginalized populations such as immigrant children being particularly vulnerable
Child Labor Globally
- Globally, child labor remains widespread. As of 2020, about 160 million children aged 5 to 17 were engaged in child labor, which is nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide
- Around 79 million of these children are involved in hazardous work that endangers their health and development
- Progress to eliminate child labor has stagnated since 2016, with the absolute number of children in child labor increasing by over 8 million in recent years
- The problem is most severe in sub-Saharan Africa, where child labor rates have increased, while some progress has been made in Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean
- International efforts, including conventions led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF, aim to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, but challenges persist especially in poorer regions and conflict zones
In summary, child labor persists as a significant issue in the U.S., with rising violations and some legislative rollbacks, and remains a large-scale problem worldwide, especially in hazardous conditions affecting millions of children
