In a recent blog post, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis states:
Combating child labor is a daunting challenge. As we mark World Day Against Child Labor on June 12, more than 200 million children are working around the globe—and more than half are working in dangerous jobs.
Every young person deserves the chance to be in school and learning—not sacrificing their childhoods working in life-threatening jobs. Children across the world who are forced into labor are risking their health, their future and their lives.
And this poster by the U.S. Department of Labor reminds us that “We cannot succeed on the backs of children.”
Most people perceive child labor as an issue that only affects developing countries. However, it’s also a problem here in North Carolina.
In the U.S., children account for roughly 1 out of every 5 work-related deaths on farms, and face higher injury and illness rates than adult workers. At least 9 children have died working on farms in NC in the past decade, and many more have been injured. (Right now we don't know the exact numbers because North Carolina does not keep track of how many child workers have died in agriculture.)
Children who work in fields treated with pesticides are at greater risk of developing neurological and reproductive health problems, as well as cancer.
Here in North Carolina, one simple way to help wipe out exploitative child labor is to close the legal loopholes that allow young children to work in agriculture. House Bill 838 would have done just that, but big agribusinesses are apparently more interested in corporate profits than the health and future of North Carolina's youngest workers. These special interests shut down debate on the bill this spring and prevented it from coming to an up-or-down vote.
Secretary Solis says that “Our mission is difficult, there is no doubt. But it is not impossible. The job of eradicating hazardous and exploitive child labor must get done.”
There is a long road ahead of us, but we can get there together. Will you stand with us?
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