Child labor is a pressing issue that has resurfaced in the United States, raising serious concerns about the protection and rights of minors, as well as increasing opportunities for labor traffickers to exploit disenfranchised youth. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) shows a 14% rise in overall child labor violations since 2022 and an 88% increase in children illegally employed since 2019. These violations involved nearly 5,800 children working unlawfully, leading to $8 million in penalties—an 83% increase compared to the previous year. Despite WHD’s efforts to prioritize the safety and protection of young workers, the data highlights a troubling surge in child labor violations. In response, Framework conducted an informal desk review to explore potential factors driving this rise and identify opportunities to address this issue.
Several contributing factors were identified, including the effects of pandemic shutdowns, loosened child labor regulations, increased monitoring of employers, and an influx of unaccompanied minors. An article in the Washington Post suggests that pandemic shutdowns and rising living costs may have contributed to these record-high violations by exacerbating labor shortages, particularly in low-wage sectors, and pushing both U.S.-based and unaccompanied minors into the workforce. While the article acknowledges a recent movement to raise awareness and investigate child labor cases, the data tells a more nuanced story. While child labor investigations increased by 14% between 2022 and 2023, there was a staggering 49% increase in the number of children employed illegally, indicating that deeper systemic issues are at play.
Image Created by Framework based on U.S. Department of Wage and Hour Division Statistics
The influx of unaccompanied minors into the United States has further extended the weaknesses in the U.S. labor market. Many of these minors are compelled to find work to support themselves and send remittances to family members back home. However, barriers such as difficulties obtaining work visas, employers’ disregard for immigrant labor laws, and a lack of fear of significant penalties, especially in sectors with low oversight, like agriculture, leave these minors highly vulnerable to exploitation. Talk about the numbers of unaccompanied minors here. This surge of vulnerable youth paired with low monitoring creates a ripe environment for exploitation by employers seeking cheap labor. The correlation between the arrival of these minors and the increase in child labor cases underscores the need for stronger protective measures, enhanced legislation, and increased monitoring and penalization to better support and safeguard these vulnerable children.
Recent legislative changes have additionally compounded the problem. With states like Iowa passing laws that now allow children as young as 14 to work six-hour night shifts, extending their exposure to hazardous working conditions. In 2023, Iowa further expanded the hours minors could work during the school year and reduced age verification requirements. These changes are not isolated; at least 14 states, including Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, have relaxed child labor protections in recent years. This rollback of protections has coincided with a dramatic rise in child labor violations reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. The weakening of these laws, combined with the influx of vulnerable minors, has created an environment where children are increasingly at risk, emphasizing the urgent need for more robust legislation and stringent enforcement to prevent further exploitation.
To address the rising wave of child labor violations, experts recommend that state and federal agencies enhance enforcement and impose stricter penalties on employers who exploit minors and immigrant workers. The need to increase that protect vulnerable youth is also important, with particular attention to immigration related supports to assist those who face the highest risks of exploitation. Strengthening penalties, expanding tort laws to offer compensatory damages for minor workers, and holding corporations accountable for violations within their supply chains are essential steps in this fight. Additionally, offering whistleblower protections and the right to counsel, especially for immigrant minors, can empower these young workers to seek justice without fear of retaliation.
Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program has highlighted that reforming child labor laws and increasing access to education are vital components of a sustainable solution. By addressing the systemic issues, such as poverty and insufficient legal protections, and by implementing social safety nets, the U.S. can better safeguard children from exploitation. Ultimately, these efforts go beyond policy changes—they are a critical investment in protecting the dignity, rights, and futures of vulnerable children, while offering trafficking survivors the opportunity to rebuild their lives with security and support.
Sources:
New York Times, Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/25/us/unaccompanied-migrant-child-workers-exploitation.html
Washington Post, Child Labor Violations Soared in Fiscal 2023
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/10/19/child-labor-violations-2023/
The Resurgence of Child Labor and the Rights of the Child in the United States
American Economic Review, Regulation of Shaming: OSHA Issuance of Press Releases for Penalties Above a Threshold Significantly Deterred Violations by Peer Employers
https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20180501
U.S. News, Child Labor Violations on the Rise as States Look to Roll Back Laws
Office of Refugee Resettlement, Unaccompanied Children Data
