In 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor released an update of its annual child labor report – representing the most comprehensive research product at that time on the state of child labour in over 130 countries worldwide. The release included International Labor Organization (ILO) figures estimating there were still over 152 million child labourers and 25 million forced labourers worldwide. In 2016, 23 countries, including Canada, made a significant advancement in their efforts to address child labour, more than ever before. The former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta asserted that: “We must make these injustices a relic of the past.” However, the Labor Department which is supposed to find and punish child labour violations, noted that inspectors in a dozen states said their understaffed offices could barely respond to complaints, much less open original investigations. The same department noted dozen of cases of young migrant workers who were killed since 2017, the last year the Labor Department reported any such data.
One now has the state government of Iowa introducing a bill aimed at rolling back labour protections for children, allowing them to work longer hours and take jobs that had been previously prohibited. The measure would permit children as young as 14 to work in roofing, construction and demolition, provided they are part of educational or apprenticeship programs and a parent has granted permission for the work. A law passed in Arkansas in March eliminated work permits and age verification requirements for workers younger than 16, and similar legislation is advancing in Missouri. Other similar child labour proposals have been introduced in Minnesota, Ohio and Georgia. Wisconsin legislators on Monday introduced a bill to allow children as young as 14 to serve alcohol in restaurants.
One cannot believe that Americans could justify sending 14 year olds into what are definitely considered hazardous or inappropriate workplaces, employment situations considered as too hazardous for young people in many states and countries. For example, in Ontario, Canada, children under 14 cannot work in an industrial establishment of any kind. Children under 15 cannot work in a factory. Children under 16 cannot work in a logging operation, in a mine, or in construction. We’re not talking here about delivering newspapers or helping out in a restaurant or on a farm, as long as the use machinery and tools are not included. This does not mean that child labour doesn’t exist in Canada as recent labour standards violations and employment-related deaths and injuries have demonstrated. Indeed, workers between the ages of 15 and 24 are more likely than any other group to suffer serious injuries, according to statistics gathered by the Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (WCBC). Investigations and inquests consistently find a major cause to be the lack of proper health and safety training, especially related to younger workers. Between 2011 and 2015, the WCBC reported that 33 young workers aged 15 to 24 died in work-related incidents. Every year, young workers between 14 and 17 are killed or injured on the job, often in workplaces deemed to be hazardous, including roofing, construction, transportation, industrial sites, farming and forestry.
Arguing that giving 14 year olds work experience is all fine and dandy, but not when it comes to potentially risking their lives. I have dozens of examples over the years where preventable workplace tragedies happened involving young workers, especially in hazardous workplaces. 14 year olds should be in school until such time they are mature enough to take on certain employment opportunities. There is no place in a modern and ethical society which places children in unsafe conditions, most often for the purpose of profiteering by certain businesses. Why should we take advantage of the desperation of some families who are living below the poverty line and receiving inadequate social assistance, especially migrant families? If we continue to promote child labour, then we are no better than those third world countries where unfortunately it exists in large numbers. There is no excuse to expand the use of child labour either in Canada or the U.S.!
FROLITICKS 