For Immediate Release

December 14, 1997

CONTACT: Holly Anderson, ext. 114

(202) 835-3323

Enforcement Nonexistent Paul Newman, Other U.S. Companies Implicated

WASHINGTON, DC . . . Millions of children are at risk because of lack of enforcement of child labor laws. Weak laws allow children as young as nine to work in migrant labor. A series released today by Associated Press confirms meager enforcement of United States labor laws, and highlights what NCL has been saying for years: illegal child labor is a huge problem in the United States, stealing childhoods, causing injury and impeding education.

"Illegal child labor is not just a problem in some faraway country. It's in our own backyard. It is an outrage federal and state governments do not place exploitation of children in the workplace as top priority ," says NCL President Linda F. Golodner.

"The AP story and our recent survey of state labor departments show protecting kids from greedy employers is way down on the list of priorities," she added.

NCL helped found and administers the Child Labor Coalition, more than 50 organizations fighting domestic and international child labor violations. Recently, the League conducted a survey of 46 state labor departments. NCL found limited resources and action by states mean reduced violations, fewer investigations and little incentive for employers to comply with child labor laws. Among the most alarming findings are:

• there are 8.5 compliance officers nationwide responsible for exclusively investigating child labor violations in the entire United States.
  
• 26 states have 10 or fewer compliance officers enforcing ALL labor laws in the state, including child labor.
  
• Maryland, Mississippi and the District of Columbia have no enforcement of child labor law by the state, depending on federal enforcement.

Depending on federal enforcement leaves children unprotected as well, with less than 1,000 compliance officers policing 6.5 million workplaces in the country. Inspectors enforce all labor laws, including minimum wage, family and medical leave, service contracts, etc.

"Response to this AP series must be immediate: we need more cops on the beat, aggressive enforcement of existing law, and we need to put protecting kids, not employers, first," said Golodner. "With unemployment at record lows, there is even more incentive for employers to bend the rules. Kids shouldn't be working excessive hours. They shouldn't be working with hazardous machinery. Laws are there for a reason; they should be enforced."

Consumers can visit NCL's web site for the Child Labor State Survey, links to companies in the Associated Press story, as well as other resources on child labor.

"The National Consumers League invites the 8 companies implicated in the story -- Newman's Own, Campbell's, Sears and others -- to work with us to end migrant child labor," said Golodner. " Just as the Apparel Industry Task Force, which I co-chair, is fighting to end sweatshops, companies can join to end exploitation of children in the fields." NCL and the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs have launched the Children in the Fields campaign to end migrant child labor.

Note to editors: This is in response to the AP "Children for Hire" series. Among the findings: more than a quarter of a million children, most younger than 15, worked unlawfully in America last year; employers saved $155 million by employing children illegally; many work in jobs too dangerous for their years during school hours. The series is available via the AP wire.

Other child labor resources on the Internet

Highlights of the Child Labor Coalition's 1997 Child Labor State Survey

NCL and AFOP Launch Campaign to End Child Labor

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. NCL's three-pronged approach of research, education and advocacy has made it an effective representative and source of information for consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to representing consumers on issues of concern.