Georgia Child Labor
Posted by Tamara
The U.S. Department of Labor recently identified a major problem with child labor in the agriculture industry in Georgia and across the nation.
While many think of this issue in conjunction with sweatshops in Asia, there is a very real Georgia child labor problem.
Under the federal FLSA or Fair Labor Standards Act, children under 12 cannot work in any capacity, including in agriculture. A few loopholes permit some exceptions to the law, as when a child works for their parent on the family farm.
Yet, a recent undercover investigation by graduate students showed that this law was regularly being violated, with children as young as 6 working alongside their parents in the fields, harvesting crops.
According to investigators, child labor is used most often to pick small fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, strawberries and grape tomatoes. The children’s tiny fingers and dexterity enable them to quickly harvest such crops with less bruising of the fruit.
There are several major concerns about using children for such labor. The majority of children are the offspring of migrant laborers. Working in the fields keeps them out of school. The lack of education creates a cycle of poverty where the parents cannot find any other job, and must put the children to work simply to earn enough to live.
According to healthcare experts, children working in farm fields are exposed to high levels of pesticides and herbicides, which often cause rashes, respiratory problems, asthma, and other ongoing health problems.
The children’s normal social and psychological development is also delayed, because they don’t have the opportunity to play or interact with other children.
One U.S. Department of Labor attorney thinks even the current Georgia child labor laws are inadequate. “We don’t let 13-year-olds work in factories,” he notes. “Why should we let them work in the fields?”
Last 10 posts by Tamara
- Georgia Vacation and Final Wages - February 5th, 2010
- Arizona Paternity Leave - February 4th, 2010
- Alabama Vacation Law - February 3rd, 2010
- Florida Small Business FMLA Maternity Leave - February 2nd, 2010
- Indiana Exempt Employee Comp Time - February 1st, 2010
- Minnesota Travel Time - January 29th, 2010
- Illinois Mini-COBRA Law - January 28th, 2010
- Wyoming Hostile Work Environment - January 27th, 2010
- Alaska Sexual Harassment - January 26th, 2010
- Texas Lunch Law - January 25th, 2010