Legislators in several U.S. states are proposing to allow minors to work in more hazardous occupations, for longer and more jobs, including serving alcohol in bars and restaurants from the age of 14.
Efforts to repeal labor regulations are largely spearheaded by Republican lawmakers who want to fight layoffs and, in some cases, violate federal regulations.
Child protection advocates fear these measures represent a coordinated effort to weaken hard-won protections for minors.
“The consequences are potentially catastrophic,” said Reid Mackie, head of the Child Labor Coalition, who opposes labor exploitation policies.
Lawmakers have proposed relaxing child labor laws in at least 10 states over the past two years, according to a report released in April by the Economic Policy Institute, and some bills have become laws while others have been withdrawn or vetoed.
Lawmakers in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa are considering easing child labor laws to address labor shortages after a surge in retirees, COVID-19 deaths and illnesses, among other factors.
Economists have pointed to other strategies the country can use to alleviate labor shortages without forcing children to work longer hours or in dangerous conditions.
In Wisconsin, lawmakers are backing a proposal to allow under-14s to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants, which, if passed, would be the lowest such limit in the country, according to the National Institute on Child Abuse, Alcohol and Alcoholism.
The Ohio legislature is on track to pass a bill that would allow 14- and 15-year-old students to work during the school year with parental permission until 9:00 pm, which is later than federal law allows.
According to Reid Mackie, teenage workers are more likely to accept low wages and less likely to unionize or push for better working conditions.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 24 children died in work accidents in 2021, with about half of work-related deaths occurring on farms, according to a government report looking at child mortality between 2003 and 2016. .
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.