Child Labor in America. Read this!!
Pinkal Sheth
CEO | United Health System | MBA | Expert in Healthcare Staffing & Recruitment | Innovator in Workforce Solutions | Executive Leader with 20+ Years of Industry Expertise | Top Healthcare Management Voice on LinkedIn
Shortages of labor in United States, labor laws and disparity of income has made many states encourage child labor to come to the workforce. Promoting child labor as a ability to have practical experience in today’s changing world is not the right thing to do, it will deprive children of their education. Let’s see the statistics to understand it better.
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According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were an estimated 500,000 child laborers under the age of 18 in the United States in 2019. Of these, 110,000 were working in hazardous occupations.
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The federal government has laws in place to protect children from child labor, but these laws are not always enforced. In recent years, there has been a trend of states weakening their child labor laws. This has made it easier for children to work in hazardous occupations and for them to work long hours.
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Here are some States to point out.
?Alabama: The minimum age to work in Alabama is 14. Children under the age of 16 are limited to working 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours on a non-school day. They are also prohibited from working between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Arkansas: The minimum age to work in Arkansas is 14. Children under the age of 16 are limited to working 8 hours on a school day and 40 hours on a non-school day. They are also prohibited from working between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
?Arizona: The minimum age to work in Arizona is 14. Children under the age of 16 are limited to working 8 hours on a school day and 40 hours on a non-school day. They are also prohibited from working between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Florida: The minimum age to work in Florida is 14. Children under the age of 16 are limited to working 8 hours on a school day and 40 hours on a non-school day. They are also prohibited from working between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Georgia: The minimum age to work in Georgia is 14. Children under the age of 16 are limited to working 8 hours on a school day and 40 hours on a non-school day. They are also prohibited from working between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
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Potential Advantages for children 14 years old to work are: ????
Earning money: Earning money can help children learn about the value of work and how to manage their finances. It can also help them to contribute to their family's income.
Learning responsibility: Working can help children learn responsibility and how to be reliable. It can also help them to develop their time management skills.
Gaining work experience: Working can give children valuable work experience that can help them in their future careers. It can also help them to develop their social skills and learn how to interact with adults in a professional setting.
Feeling independent: Working can help children feel more independent and self-reliant. It can also give them a sense of accomplishment and pride.
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According to a 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Labor, the states with the highest rates of child labor are:
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???Georgia: 10.8% of children ages 14-17 worked in 2020.
???North Carolina: 9.4% of children ages 14-17 worked in 2020.
???Texas: 9.1% of children ages 14-17 worked in 2020.
???Florida: 8.9% of children ages 14-17 worked in 2020.
???South Carolina: 8.7% of children ages 14-17 worked in 2020.
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The majority of child laborers in the United States are employed in agriculture, retail, and food service. They are also found in manufacturing, construction, and transportation. Child laborers are more likely to be Hispanic or Latino, and they are more likely to live in poverty.
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Child labor is a serious problem that can have long-term negative consequences for children. Children who work are more likely to miss school, have lower academic achievement, and drop out of school. They are also more likely to be injured or killed on the job.
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Child labor is a serious problem in the United States. It can have a number of negative consequences for children, including:
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Why are certain state legislatures promoting Child labor?
Economic reasons: States may promote child labor in order to boost the economy. Children are often willing to work for lower wages than adults, which can make them more attractive to employers. Additionally, children may be more productive than adults in certain types of jobs, such as those that require manual labor.
Cultural reasons: In some cultures, child labor is seen as a way for children to learn responsibility and to contribute to the family income. Additionally, in some cultures, children are seen as property of their parents, and parents have the right to make decisions about their children's employment.
Political reasons: States may promote child labor in order to appease businesses or special interest groups. For example, a state may weaken its child labor laws in order to attract new businesses to the state.
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There are a number of things that can be done to address the problem of child labor. One is to strengthen child labor laws and talk to your state legislatures for your concerns. Another is to provide more education and training to parents and employers about the dangers of child labor. Finally, we need to create more opportunities for children to stay in school and get an education.