The federal Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation released an update on its efforts to combat child labor violations, including teen workers employed in hazardous occupations.
A combined effort from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division and several other federal agencies concluded 765 child labor cases between Oct. 1, 2022 and July 20, 2023, finding 4,474 children employed in violation and resulting in more than $6.6 million in fines.
These cases reflect a 44% increase in teen workers found employed in violation of federal law and an 87% increase in penalties assessed from the same time period in the previous fiscal year, according to the DOL.
The task force is currently pursuing 700 more open child labor cases.
This interagency task force was created following a 69% increase in findings of illegal child labor between 2018 and 2022.
Task force participants include the DOL Wage and Hour Division and the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice and State. These federal agencies are also working with state and local governments to address child labor violations.
The update mentions a few successfully completed cases, including:
- three businesses employing 305 children at 62 McDonald’s locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and Ohio that allowed teen workers to operate manual deep fryers
- Wage and Hour Division use of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) “hot goods” provision to prevent shipment of goods produced using illegal child labor after finding two teenagers employed in violation of child labor laws at a Minnesota meat snack manufacturer, and
- six Nevada Sonic Drive-In locations illegally assigning teens to operate manual deep fryers.
Operation of equipment such as manual deep fryers and trash compactors is deemed too hazardous for teen workers to operate under the FLSA.
