State Child Labor Survey Reveals Lackluster Enforcement Efforts
 

Child Labor Coalition Annual Survey Results Disappointing

September 9, 2004
Contact: Carol McKay
 or Mark Fernando
202-835-3323
media@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—States are trying to hold ground against extremely limited resources for child labor enforcement, concludes the national Child Labor Coalition (CLC), representing more than 40 organizations. “The CLC’s annual survey of state labor departments shows that most states are providing limited personnel to conduct inspections of workplaces,” says Darlene Adkins, CLC coordinator.  “We have a handful of states with no enforcement whatsoever.  More than 20 states have ten or fewer compliance officers responsible for enforcing all labor laws in the state, including child labor protections.  That’s not much of a presence.”

This year, states collected in total $1.865 million in civil money penalties for child labor violations.  This reflects a decrease of more than $700,000 from last year’s total.

One child labor area that continues to desperately need improvement, according to the survey, is the protection of children who work in agriculture.  “Our state and federal laws governing children working as migrant and seasonal farmworkers are deplorable,” says Adkins.  At least 15 states set no minimum age for work in agriculture.  Another 16 states set the minimum age at 12 or below.  U.S. child labor law allows minors as young as 12 to work in the fields.  “We know children are working in the fields, but according to many state laws and the Fair labor Standards Act, they are working legally,” Adkins said.

Thirty-nine states responded to the 2003 Child Labor State Survey, a survey conducted annually by the Child Labor Coalition since 1992.  It is a self-reported survey by state labor departments or their equivalent.  Non-responding states were: Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  State-specific survey results are available on the CLC Web site at www.stopchildlabor.org/what’snew/whatsnew.htm

About the Child Labor Coalition

The Child Labor Coalition is a group of more than 40 organizations, representing consumers, labor unions, educators, human rights and labor rights groups, child advocacy groups, and religious and women’s groups.  It was established in 1989, and is co-chaired by the National Consumers League and the American Federation of Teachers.  It’s mission is to protect working youth and to promote legislation, programs, and initiatives to end child labor exploitation in the United States and abroad.