As some states look to roll back child labor laws, Democrats in Congress introduce a bill to increase protections for children working in agriculture that would raise the minimum age to 14.
Three franchisees operating McDonald's locations in Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana collectively had 305 minors working illegally. They are ordered to pay more than $200,000 in civil penalties.
Child labor rules in agriculture are looser than those in other industries, even for tasks that are dangerous. For all tobacco laborers, but especially kids, the work can cause nicotine poisoning.
Lawmakers in 11 states have either passed or introduced laws to roll back child labor laws — a push that’s come from industry trade organizations and mostly conservative legislators as businesses scramble for low-wage workers.
Under the Youth Hiring Act of 2023, those under 16 don't have to get the Division of Labor's permission to be employed. The state also doesn't have to verify their age anymore.
The total number of violations is still much lower than it was two decades ago. But violations have more than tripled since 2015, a trend that has experts troubled.
Since the return of the Taliban, Afghanistan's coal exports have increased — and so has child labor. At a coal mine in Baghlan province, boys earn between $3 and $8 for a day's work.
His father left with their savings, and the mother isn't able to work. A new report points to an increase in child labor, with millions of kids working. And COVID has likely made matters worse.
