Articles About U.S. Child Labor

The New York Times, "Gov't Asked to Act on Teenagers' Job Safety," Steve Greenhouse, August 5, 2002.

The Columbus Dispatch, "Jobs Hazardous to Teens' Health," Darlene Superville, July 9, 2002.

The Plain Dealer, “Long hours taking toll on youths, studies say,” Paloma McGregor, March 5, 2001.

Newsday, “Labor Daze: Employers pay price for breaking rules on teen workers,” Carrie Mason-Draffen, December 11, 2000.

The New York Times, “Farm Work by Children Tests Labor Laws,” Steven Greenhouse, August 6, 2000.

The Cincinnati Post, “Teens in the Workforce,” (a series of articles), Andrew Conte, March 11-15, 2000.

USA Today, “Child Labor Violator’s Fines Often Slashed,” Stephanie Armour, December 23, 1998.

The Washington Post, “Teens Find Profit and Loss in Work: Part time jobs bring experience and cash, but can hinder studies,” Jacqueline Salmon, March 28, 1998.

Associated Press: Series of articles on children in the U.S. working as hired farmworkers. Articles ran in many newspapers throughout country in December 1997/January 1998.

Southern Exposure, "Working in Harm's Way," Ron Nixon, Fall/Winter 1995, pp. 16-26.

Women's Day, "Is Your Teenager Safe At Work?" Robin Warshaw, May 17, 1994, pp. 41-44.

The New York Times, "U.S. Says 64,000 Teen-Agers a Year Are Injured on the Job," April 22, 1994, p. A28.

Fortune, "Illegal Child Labor Comes Back," Brian Dumaine, April 5, 1993, pp. 86-94.

Newsweek, "Too Old, Too Fast? (Millions of American teenagers work, but many may be squandering their futures)," Steven Waldman and Karen Springen, November 16, 1992, pp. 80-88.

Family Circle, "Risking Lives for $3.85 an Hour: The Hidden Cost of Child Labor," Rosalind Wright, March 12, 1991, pp.83-88.

Articles About International Child Labor

The New York Times, "In Ecuador's Banana Fields, Child Labor Is Key to Profits," Juan Forero, July 13, 2002

The New York Times, "Bondage's Load: Heavy Bricks, and Crushing Debt," Raymond Bonner, June 12, 2002

The Washington Post, “Factories of Children: Youth labor force growing in Asia to meet export demand, help families,” Molly Moore, May 21, 1995.

Life Magazine, "Six Cents an Hour," Sydney Schanberg, June 1996, p. 38-45.

The Atlantic Monthly, "Child Labor in Pakistan," Jonathan Silvers, February 1996, pp. 79-92.

Articles for Students About International Child Labor

Junior Scholastic, "Breaking the Chains: Millions of young people all over the world suffer as child laborers. What can be done?," Sean Price, October 6, 1997.

Guideposts for Kids, "Worth Working For," by Aline Newman,
January/February 1997, pp. 4-7.

Chicago Tribune, "Stop Child Exploitation by Shopping With A Conscience," Editorial by Craig Kielburger, December 15, 1996.

Time for Kids, "Goal: Ending Child Labor," September 20, 1996, pp. 4-5.

Books

Stolen Dreams: Portraits of Working Children, by David Parker with Lee Engfer and Robert Conrow, 1998. This 112 page book contains over 50 photographs from Mexico, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Thailand. The book is written for the early to middle teenager and contains quotes and other material by teenagers who are working to end child labor exploitation. Cost: $14.95. Contact The Learner Publishing Group at 800-328-4929.

Listen to Us: The World's Working Children, by Jane Springer, 1997. The book explores the many difficult issues surrounding child labor, including globalization, consumerism, and attitudes toward girls and women. It addresses ways that young people can help to combat child labor by working together and by listening to what working children have to say about their work and the changes they want to make in their lives. Appropriate for ages 12 to 15. Cost $16.95 pb; $24.95 hc. Contact: Publisher's Group West, 800-788-3123.

Cheap Raw Material: How Our Youngest Workers Are Exploited and Abused, by Milton Meltzer, Viking Press (published by Penguin Books USA Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, 1994. This book gives a good history on child labor -- beginning in ancient Roman times. It moves on to the American experience in mines, mills, and sweatshops. Good photos.

Earth Angels: Migrant Children in America, by Nancy Buirski, 1994. Photographs and narrative of migrant farmworker children and their families. Cost: $24.95 pk; $35 hc. Contact: Pomegranate Press, c/o Nancy Buirski, 315 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021.

Kids At Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusades Against Child Labor, by Russell Freedman, 1994. Lewis Hine spent over fifty years traveling in the United States photographing the way of life of its citizens. His photographs of children at work were so devastating that they convinced the American people that Congress must pass child labor laws. This book contains 61 black and white photographs with text. Cost: $16.95. Contact Clarion Books at 212-420-5800.

Click here for more books on child labor

Other Resources and Publications

Global March Against Child Labor

Out of the Shadows: A Worldwide Report on the Worst Forms of Child Labour.  Contains country reports on child slavery, child prostitution, child trafficking, child soldiers, and more.

International Labor Organization, ILO Publications Center, P.O. Box 753, Suite ACT, Waldorf, MD  20604-0753.

Action Against Child Labor, Edited by Nilien Haspels and Michele Jankanish, February 2000.  400 page book that addresses national policies and programs, legislation, improving the knowledge base about child labor, alternatives to child labor, strategies to addressing child slavery, strategies for employers and their organizations, the role and work of trade unions and non-governmental groups against child labor, awareness raising, and resources.  Cost: $34.95 (shipping and handling $4.50 for the first copy plus $1 for each additional copy).

Child Labor Coalition, 1701 K Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20006; 202-835-3323.

Model State Child Labor Law. A guide for states to use as they update and strengthen child labor law, 1992. COST: $5.

Co-Op America Quarterly, 1612 K Street, NW, #600, Washington, DC 20006; 202-872-5307.

"Sweatshops: What You Can Do To Stop Them," Summer 1997, No.42. "Sweatshops: Solutions to a Global Problem," Fall 1998, No. 46.

Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1414 22nd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037; 800-545-9043.

CQ Researcher, "Child Labor and Sweatshops," August 16, 1996, Vol. 6, No. 31; COST: $8.

Creative Associates International, Basic Education and Policy Support Activity/Child Labor Program, 5301 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, #700, Washington, DC  20015; 202-966-5804.  

An online database offering country profiles on child labor and other information.

U.S. Committee for UNICEF, 333 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016

Thursday's Child, "Child Labor: A Shame We All Share," Spring 1997, pp 6-9; FREE.
State of the World's Children, 1997

U.S. Government: Research & Studies

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Report on the Youth Labor Force, June 2000. The report provides an overall look at youth labor in the U.S., including regulations on child labor, current work experience of youth and how it has changed over time, and the outcomes of this experience. It draws on a variety of Department of Labor data sources in developing this picture.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-1308, Washington, DC 20210; 202-208-4843.

By the Sweat & Toil of Children: (Volumes 1-6) 1994; FREE and available online. Other reports on child labor are also available.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1-800-356-4674; Outside the U.S. 513-533-8328.

NIOSH Recommendations to the US Department of Labor for Changes to Hazardous Orders, 2002; FREE and available through the US Labor Department, Wage and Hour Division at (202)693-0051.

The General Accounting Office: Reports on child labor, as requested by members of Congress:

• Pesticides: Improvements Needed to Ensure the Safety of Farmworkers and Their Children: GAO/RCED-00-40, March 7, 2000.

• Child Labor in Agriculture: Changes Needed to Better Protect Health & Educational Opportunities: GAO/HEHS-98-193.

• Child Labor in Agriculture: Characteristics and Legality of Work: GAO/HEHS-98-112R, March 1998.
• Child Labor: Information on Federal Enforcement Efforts: GAO/HRD-92-127FS, June 1992.
• Child Labor: Work Permit and Death and Injury Reporting Systems in Selected States: GAO/HRD-92-44FS, March 1992.
• Hired Farmworkers: Health and Well-Being at Risk: GAO/HRD-92-46, February 1992.
• Labor's Child Labor Enforcement Efforts: Development After Operation Child Watch: GAO/T-HRD-91-44, August 1991.
• Child Labor: Characteristics of Working Children: GAO/HRD-91-83BR, June 1991.
• Occupational Safety and Health and Child Labor Policies of the United States and Mexico: GAO/T-HRD-91-22, April 1991.
• Child Labor: Increases in Detected Child Labor Violations Throughout the United States: GAO/HRD-90-116, April 1990.

To receive a free copy of a GAO report, call 202-275-6241. Also available online.

Videos

American Federation of Teachers, International Affairs Department, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC  20001; 202-879-4400

Lost Futures: The Problem of Child Labor. Contains a 16-minute video for middle school students that  includes a short history of child labor in the United States, a description of the existence of child labor around the globe, including the story of Iqbal Masih, and how American schools have joined in the fight to end child labor. A teacher’s guide with background information, lesson plan suggestions, and additional resources accompanies the video. Cost:  $15 ($10 for AFT members). Contact: Child Labor Video, American Federation of Teachers.

International Labor Organization, 1828 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; 202-653-7652.

Shackled Children. Six segments. (1) Mirzapur, India; Kailash Satyarthi and rescue of kids. Shows children working in various industries, including carpet weaving. Subtitles on some dialogue. (2) Egypt. Agricultural workers - jasmine harvesters. Other occupations, such as leather tanning. (3) U.S.A. - migrant workers. (4) Russia, street hawkers, odd jobs. (5) India, Good interview with child carpet weaver (subtitles) and video showing children weaving carpets. Also video and interviews with glass making and bangle workshops. (6) Columbia, coal mines. 1993 (Length: 55:00). Loans are available.

National Labor Committee, 212-242-0700

• Zoned for Slavery, focuses on Free Trade Zones (maquiladoras) in Latin America. Mentions countries: Honduras, Dominican Republic, San Salvador, and Guatemala. Profiles San Pedro Sula, Honduras and GAP. Other industries mentioned: Wrangler, Warnaco, U.S. Shoe, Sag Harbor, Arizona (JC Penney), Gitano (Fruit of the Loom for Wal-Mart), Eddie Bauer, and Osh Kosh B'gosh.
  1995, (Length: 23:00). Available in Spanish and English.  $20
• Bangladesh: An Appeal for Solidarity (conditions in the garment industry).  2001, (Length 8:00).  $10.

We Do The Work (PBS Program). Contact: California Working Group (a media production company); 510-547-8484.

"When Children Do the Work" includes footage from National Labor Committee's Zoned for Slavery and Globalvision's Rights and Wrongs program which focused on Pakistan's carpet industry. Footage includes Iqbal Masih, the 12-year-old Pakistani child activist. 1996 (Length: Approx. 30:00)

MA Dept. of Public Health & The Education Development Center.
Contact: EDC at 617-969-7100, ext 2238.

"Teens: The Hazards We Face in the Workplace" is an educational video by teens for teens on workplace hazards. Teens describe their injuries on the job. Purpose of video is to 1) prevent injuries in the workplace by educating teens about workplace hazards and how to protect themselves and 2) inform teens of their rights on the job. A discussion guide for high school students was developed to be used with the video. 1996 (Length: 13:00).