NEW YORK – The US authorities on Monday introduced plans to clamp down on an “alarming” surge in baby labor within the nation, the place the variety of illegally employed minors has jumped by two thirds since 2018.
The uptick in unlawful baby labor within the United States coincides with a large inflow of unaccompanied youngsters fleeing poverty and violence in Latin America — with 130,000 referred to US authorities shelters within the final fiscal yr alone.
“This is not a 19th century problem — this is a today problem,” Labor Secretary Marty Walsh stated in a press release, calling for an unlimited mobilization of assets to sort out the issue.
“We need Congress to come to the table, we need states to come to the table.”
In the course of the final fiscal yr, the Department of Labor recognized 835 firms using 3,800 youngsters in violation of the regulation, and noticed a 26 p.c rise in youngsters employed particularly for harmful jobs.
These are “alarming trends,” a senior administration official instructed a media briefing.
To attempt to curb the rise, a joint taskforce by the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services — liable for unaccompanied minors arriving within the nation — will search to enhance info sharing between the 2 companies.
A parallel initiative by the Labor Department will deal with higher enforcement of present legal guidelines, particularly in areas and industries the place offenses are most widespread.
The division additionally vowed to carry firms accountable if contractors and temp companies are discovered to be utilizing baby labor.
“Too often, companies look the other way and claim that their staffing agency, or their subcontractor or supplier is responsible,” Walsh was quoted as saying.
According to present legal guidelines, the utmost wonderful for breaking baby labor legal guidelines is $15,138 per case.
“That’s not high enough to be a deterrent for major profitable companies,” stated the Labor Department assertion.
In the United States, youngsters are allowed to start out work at 14, with a restricted variety of hours for youngsters underneath 16 with a view to enable them to proceed to go to high school.
Certain harmful jobs, in factories or slaughterhouses, for instance, are off-limits for minors.
A weekend expose by The New York Times reported on an elevated presence of migrant minors, some as younger as 12 years previous, working in sectors throughout the American economic system from automobile factories to development websites and supply companies. — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
