History of Child Labor
What jobs were children most commonly found working in during the early 20th century?
Mines, as newspaper carriers or couriers, textile mills, cotton mills, glass factories, on farms, and in home-based businesses.
What is the Fair Labor Standards Act?
This act determines minimum wage, overtime pay, child labor laws The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments.
Why do large corporations choose to exploit child labor?
They can pay children low wages so it's cheap labor, children are less likely to strike and easier to be manipulated.
What factors were taken into consideration when determining whether a child was ready to work?
Their age, physical size, and family's income.
What restrictions does the Fair Labor Standards Act have on child labor? Are there any exceptions?
Minimum age to work is 14, limits the hours a child under 16 can work during the day and week, and prohibits the employment of minors in hazardous jobs. The exception to these restrictions is in agriculture where a child as young as 9 can work on weekends in some states.
Have child labor violations increased or decreased over the years?
Child labor violations have increased 19% in the last year and 88% since 2019. Penalties amounted to $8 million.
When was child labor first condemned in the U.S.? By what group?
First officially condemned in 1832 by the New England Association of Farmers.
How do federal and state laws regarding child labor differ?
Federal laws do not regulate the hours a 16 and 17 year old can work in a day, which means it is determined by state laws. Federal laws are the baseline that every state must follow, but states can also add on to federal laws to make them more restrictive. However if one a state and federal law differ the one that offers more protection to the minor is enforced.
What actions might large corporations take to prolong the exploitation of child labor?
Get their state lawmakers to attempt to weaken child labor protections.
Why was child labor so encouraged and accepted before the late 1930's?
Children were viewed as resources especially by low income families. Believed that children who worked were less likely to become a burden to society. Provided a source for cheap labor that supported major factories and industries. Allowed able-bodied men to work the harder more complex jobs that children and woman couldn't do.
What was the Keating-Owen Act of 1916? Why was it later declared unconstitutional?
This act sought to limit children’s working hours and prevent the sale of goods that were produced by child labor. It was found to be unconstitutional by the supreme court because it was regulating interstate commerce.
What is the name for the practice that occurs in multinational corporations that support child labor?
Corporate complicity, which describes the involvement of corporations in unethical practices like child labor. This looks like corporations knowing about their supply chain benefiting from the child labor it uses and turning a blind eye to it. They financially benefit from the exploitation of children so they are complicit.
After the Civil War what system was used to exploit recently freed children and immigrant children? How was this system seen by the courts?
Apprenticeship agreements were essentially a way children were "re-enslaved" by their former slave masters. The agreements stated that in exchange for the child's labor they would be trained in their "mentor's" industry. The courts saw these agreements as beneficial to the children because they would learn more about an industry through former slave owners than their recently freed or immigrant parents.
Under the FLSA what are the consequences if a company is found to employ a minor?
There are civil money penalties that can cost up to $11,000 per child laborer, and an assessment that can be up to $50,000 for violations that cause serious injury or death. The assessments can even be doubled if the violators are found to have knowingly put them in harm's way or repeatedly done it. The violators can also face an injunction or criminal charges in federal court and can be charged an additional $10,000 if they are convicted a second time for the same offense. The violator can also face jail time but can not be imprisoned for more than 6 months.
What role can leads of large corporations play to ensure their company doesn’t use child labor?
Large corporations can make sure their business is complying with labor laws, they can set minimum labor standards for their supply chains, and they can audit subcontractors and supplies that violate the child labor laws. This is not happening because current laws do not expect them to do this and there are many loopholes to prevent major corporations from taking accountability.