New Anti-Child Labor Campaign Targets Major U.S. Meat Companies for Illegal Child Labor in Slaughterhouses

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829 

Washington, DC – Green America and the Child Labor Coalition launched a new campaign aimed at eradicating child labor and labor violations in the food production industry, with a focus on the four top U.S. meat processing companies. The campaign will focus on child labor and labor violations at Perdue Farms, JBS, Tyson and Cargill, including launching a consumer petition and engaging a network of allied grassroots groups on the ground across the country.

Once thought a relic of the past, child labor is on the rise in the United States. Major U.S. corporations are putting children as young as 13 to work in dangerous jobs they are too young to perform and that are hazardous to their health. An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 children are working in the agriculture industry alone.

In January, Perdue Farms and JBS, two of the country’s largest meat-packers, were fined a combined $8 million for relying on children to work in their slaughterhouses. Children also have been reportedly working in dangerous conditions at Tyson and Cargill facilities. To make matters worse, 31 states have worked to loosen child labor and safety laws since 2021.

Reid Maki, Child Labor Advocacy Director for the Child Labor Coalition and National Consumers League, said: “Children’s lives are on the line and there is no time to waste. In just the last two years, the U.S. has experienced fatalities and permanent, traumatic injuries involving children working at dangerous and exploitative jobs in meat-processing facilities. Companies have a legal and moral obligation to eliminate child labor in the food production industry.”

Charlotte Tate, Labor Justice Campaigns Director at Green America, said: “In the United States today, illegal child labor is resurgent because of the irresponsible business practices of corporations, including some of the top meat-packing companies. It’s appalling that multi-billion-dollar meat producers are profiting from children carrying out dangerous work cleaning in their facilities. Cargill hit record profits of up to $6 billion in recent years. JBS is even bigger, with a reported $20 billion profit last year alone. While companies are taking steps in response to federal investigations, more needs to be done to protect children from child labor and unsafe working conditions throughout their entire supply chains.”

Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director at Green America said: “Sadly, there have been several reports of minors who suffered injuries that included mangled arms and chemical burns in food processing facilities cleaned by contractors hired by meatpacking companies. These children are working long hours, often late in the night, to do work that should only be performed by adults.”

JBS – JBS is the world’s largest meat processor. The Department of Labor recently uncovered serious child labor violations at multiple JBS facilities, revealing minors as young as 13 years old working in hazardous working conditions. These violations were found in locations in Grand Island, Nebraska; Greeley, Colorado; Worthington, Minnesota; and Marshall, Minnesota. The Department of Labor report states that these minors were exposed to and cleaned hazardous machinery during overnight shifts. JBS paid $4 million in fines in January 2025 for child labor violations in several states.

Tyson – Tyson is the second-largest meat processor after JBS. The Department of Labor recently found minors as young as 13 working in hazardous conditions at Tyson Foods facilities in Green Forest, Arkansas and Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The Department of Labor also began investigating Tyson for child labor violations at two poultry processing plants in Arkansas.

Perdue – The Department of Labor recently found children as young as 13 working in hazardous conditions in a Perdue Facility in Virginia. Tragically, while sanitizing power-driven meat-processing equipment, a child working an overnight shift was traumatically injured when his arm was caught in a machine that he was cleaning and cut to the bone in February 2022. Perdue recently agreed to pay $4 million in fines based on investigations of child labor in Virginia.

Cargill – Cargill is the world’s largest ground beef producer. The Department of Labor recently uncovered child labor violations at Cargill facilities in Dodge City, Kansas and Fiona, Texas. The investigation of Packer Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), which was contracted by Cargill and other meatpackers, found children working with hazardous chemicals and cleaning equipment such as brisket saws and “head splitters,” often on overnight shifts.

Green America is a non-profit organization representing over 250,000 individual members and 2,000 small businesses. Our mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.

The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) represents millions of Americans through 37 organizations that fight to protect worker rights, human rights, and child rights. CLC members include the nation’s largest union, the National Education Association, the National Consumers League, Human Rights Watch, and the Fair Labor Association, as well as numerous groups that are also concerned about the welfare of vulnerable children at risk of child labor exploitation.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org. 

NCL applauds reintroduction of the American Family Act     

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829   

Washington, DC – The National Consumer League (NCL) is proud to join Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and other supporters in advocating for the reintroduction of the American Family Act. This landmark legislation seeks to make the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit (CTC) permanent. This critical policy helps lift families out of poverty and provides economic stability for millions of American households. As original supporters of this initiative, NCL continues to emphasize the importance of providing financial security to families, especially those facing economic hardship.    

 The bottom line is that the CTC helps combat child labor by reducing the financial strain that forces families to send their children to work. By providing additional support, tax credits lessen the need for children to contribute financially, allowing families to meet their needs better and giving children the opportunity to focus on their education and well-being. 

“By making the Child Tax Credit permanent, the American Family Act will ensure families can count on consistent support to meet their basic needs. The 2021 expansion showed us how transformative this policy can be, lifting millions of children out of poverty and giving parents the ability to better care for their families,” said Reid Maki, Director of Child Labor Advocacy. “We know from NCL’s long-standing work on protecting children from child labor that poverty drives children into perilous child labor. We stand with Congresswoman DeLauro and her colleagues in pushing for this essential legislation that can strengthen our nation’s economic future by investing in its most valuable asset—our children.”        

NCL urges Congress to take swift action in passing the American Family Act to continue building on the success of the expanded Child Tax Credit, providing long-term relief for working families and helping children reach their fullest potential.       

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)      

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org. 

NCL raises alarm over meat industry push to dismantle protections amid worker and environmental concerns 

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, 202-207-2829

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) is raising serious concerns over recent lobbying efforts by the Meat Institute, which is urging the Trump administration to roll back essential regulations designed to protect workers, the environment, and consumers in the meatpacking and factory farm industries. NCL’s concerns are heightened by disturbing reports of widespread hazardous child labor in the industry, including children working night shifts to clean factories with caustic chemicals.

In its letter to the White House, the Meat Institute is pushing for the elimination of critical protections such as the Clean Water Act, food safety regulations, and farmworker protections under the Packers and Stockyards Act. NCL is opposed to these efforts, warning that weakening these protections will lead to further exploitation of workers and unsafe food production practices.

“The history of the meat industry is a stark reminder of why these protections exist,” said NCL CEO Sally Greenberg. “The horrifying conditions Upton Sinclair exposed in The Jungle led to critical reforms such as the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906—laws that NCL championed that continue to safeguard public health and ensure the safety of our food supply. We cannot afford to go backward.”

The emergence of widespread child labor in the meatpacking industry, with children working in hazardous conditions, echoes the dark past that led to these crucial regulations. The Meat Institute’s push to dismantle regulations on food safety, water pollution, and worker protections will not only harm workers, but also put consumers at risk. Without these safeguards, the public could face unsafe food products, environmental damage, and the continued exploitation of vulnerable workers.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL applauds DOL’s efforts to hold corporations accountable when it comes to child labor violations

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Media Contact: Lisa McDonald, Vice President of Communications, (202)- 207-2829

Washington, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) applauds the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for their recent efforts to combat unlawful child labor practices, following several significant enforcement actions in the past week. These recent actions demonstrate the Department’s commitment to holding corporations accountable for violating child labor laws and protecting vulnerable young workers from exploitation.

“NCL commends the Biden Administration’s Department of Labor for these landmark actions,” said Reid Maki NCL Director of Child Labor Advocacy. “These agreements not only hold corporations responsible for their violations but also set a clear precedent for others to follow in ensuring that children are not subjected to dangerous, illegal labor.”

This month’s actions by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division:

Cleaning Contractor Pays $400,000 in Penalties: The DOL reached an agreement with a Tennessee cleaning contractor, requiring the company to pay $400,000 in civil penalties and take proactive steps to prevent child labor violations. The company will implement new policies, including monitoring and auditing to ensure children are not employed in hazardous jobs, and provide a toll-free number for reporting concerns. Additional information here.

Perdue Farms and Staffing Agency Address Violations: The DOL reached an agreement with Perdue Farms and a temporary staffing agency, SMX, following an investigation into child labor violations at Perdue’s poultry processing facility in Accomac, Virginia. This agreement outlines measures to prevent child labor violations and ensure compliance with federal child labor laws. Additional information here.

JBS USA Takes Responsibility for Child Labor Violations: The DOL secured an agreement with JBS USA, the nation’s largest meatpacking processor, to address child labor violations in its supply chain. JBS will pay $4 million to support individuals and communities affected by illegal child labor and launch an awareness campaign to educate the public on the dangers of child labor. The funds may provide immediate assistance to affected individuals and community organizations in the form of scholarships, stipends and educational aid including assistance to community organizations to fund English as a Second Language teaching positions, literacy, job training and housing. Additional information here.

Little Caesars Franchisee Fined for Child Labor Violations: A Little Caesars franchise in Farmington Hills, Michigan, was found to have employed minors to operate dangerous equipment such as dough mixers and ovens. The company also violated child labor laws by allowing three 15-year-olds to work past 7 p.m. on school nights. The franchisee was penalized $26,000 as part of the settlement. Additional information here.

During the last two years, as hazardous child labor spread to factories and meatpacking plants across the U.S., the Wage and Hour Administration has invoked an arrange of innovative strategies to help reduce child labor and to protect vulnerable children. Those strategies have included using “hot goods” mechanisms, reformulating child labor fines, funneling resources to child labor victims.

NCL continues to advocate for stronger protections for children and workers across the country, urging lawmakers, businesses, and consumers to join in the effort to eliminate child labor in all forms.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org

The Child Labor Coalition announces the 2024 Congressional Champions of Child Labor Protections for taking bold action against child labor exploitation

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October 31, 2024

Contact: Reid Maki (202) 207-2820, reidm@nclnet.org

WASHINGTON, DC – The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) is proud to announce the 25 recipients of the 2024 Congressional Champions of Child Labor Protections who have taken a stand against the troubling rise of child labor exploitation during the 118th Congress. During a period in which child workers were increasingly found working illegally in factory settings across the U.S., these legislators responded by strengthening child labor protections – either by introducing new legislation or cosponsoring child labor bills endorsed by the Child Labor Coalition.

“Over the last two years, child labor protections have faced unprecedented threats as over 30 states sought to weaken regulations on the hours children can work and the types of hazardous work children can perform,” says Reid Maki, Director of Child Labor Advocacy at the Child Labor Coalition.

“We are fortunate these stalwart lawmakers worked to strengthen child labor protections and enforcement,” says CLC chair Sally Greenberg, who is also the CEO of the National Consumers League. “These bills provide creative and much-needed solutions to our widespread child labor problem.”

Recent Department of Labor data show child labor violations have soared by 472% between 2015 and 2023, highlighting cases where minors are subjected to grueling hours, hazardous work environments, and, in some tragic cases, loss of limbs and fatalities. Against this backdrop, these 25 Congressional Champions have supported legislation aimed at protecting child laborers and ensuring compliance with federal child labor laws.

Congress responded robustly with at least eight pieces of legislation addressing child labor that the CLC has endorsed. “Much of this legislation would significantly increase civil monetary fines for child labor violations – not just by a little, but often by a factor of 10,” says CLC’s Maki. “We saw several innovative and comprehensive responses in bills like “Children Harmed in Life-Threatening or Dangerous (CHILD) Labor Act of 2023, by Senator Casey (D-PA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Similarly, H.R. 4440, the “Protecting Children Act” by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), called for innovative and sweeping strategies against child labor.

Congress also sought to protect exploited child farmworkers with “The Children’s Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety,” introduced by Raul Ruiz (D-CA) in the House and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in the Senate. “This was the first Senate bill to protect vulnerable child farmworkers in two decades,” said Maki.

Child labor on U.S. tobacco farms would be banned by the “Children Don’t Belong on Tobacco Farms Act,” from Senator Durbin and Rep. DeLauro.  “Child tobacco workers are subjected to toxic nicotine levels while they work. We’re so grateful that Senator Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. DeLauro (D-CT) are trying to tackle this long-standing problem,” said Greenberg.

The CLC, representing 36 dedicated organizations, including Human Rights Watch and America’s largest union, the National Education Association, has named seven Senators and 18 members of the House Representatives as the 2024 Congressional Champions of Child Labor Protections.

We are recognizing five members of the Senate for introducing legislation to improve child labor enforcement efforts or increase child labor protections:

  • Corey Booker (D-NJ)
  • Robert Casey (D-PA)
  • Richard Durbin (D-IL)
  • Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
  • Brian Schatz (D-HI)

Two senators are recognized for cosponsoring at least three bills endorsed by the CLC:

  • Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
  • Jack Reed (D-RI)

In the House, the CLC recognizes six members for introducing child labor legislation endorsed by the coalition:

  • Greg Casar (D-TX)
  • Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
  • Dan Kildee (D-MI)
  • Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
  • Hillary Scholten (D-MI)
  • Bobby Scott (D-VA)

The coalition also recognizes 12 members for each cosponsoring five child labor five bills. These members are:

  • Alma Adams (D-NC)
  • Judy Chu (D-CA)
  • Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
  • Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL)
  • Seth Magaziner (D-RI)
  • Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)
  • James McGovern (D-MA)
  • Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
  • Mark Pocan (D-WI)
  • Linda Sanchez (D-CA)
  • Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)
  • Shri Thanedar (D-MI)

The CLC’s endorsed child labor legislation in the 118th Congress can be found here. The congressional session also saw the creation of the Child Labor Prevention Task Force, under the leadership of Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI). “We very much hope to see this important legislative unit continue its work in the 119th Congress,” said Maki. “We encourage other members to join the Task Force and to lend their support to child labor legislation.”

The CLC looks forward to working with many of these congressional child labor heroes in the 119th Congress.

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About The Child Labor Coalition (CLC)

In its 35th year, The Child Labor Coalition strives to reduce exploitative child labor in the United States and abroad, bringing together 36 groups to create a powerful voice that promotes public education, research, and advocacy to end child labor, child marriage, and child trafficking.

A member list can be found here.

About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Organizations urge Biden-Harris Administration to strengthen child labor protections amid rising workplace injuries and violations

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October 16, 2024

Media contact: Rachael Klarman, Executive Director, rachael.klarman@governingforimpact.org

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Governing for Impact (GFI), the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), and the Child Labor Coalition (CLC) released a set of executive action proposals the Biden-Harris administration can take to address the alarming rise in child labor violations and workplace injuries in the United States. The proposals, which are grounded in the Department of Labor’s (DOL) existing authority, include preventing children from working in hazardous occupations like milling operations, prohibiting children from handling toxic chemicals, and banning overnight shifts for kids.

The executive action proposals aim to fill a pressing gap in child labor enforcement. Since 2021, more than thirty states have taken steps to weaken child labor laws, including in Arkansas, Iowa, New Jersey, and Michigan. Extreme, industry-aligned groups like those behind Project 2025 have also proposed weakening federal regulations to let more young people work dangerous jobs, claiming that “young adults show an interest in inherently dangerous jobs.”

“Many assume that child labor is a thing of the past, and that there must already be a robust regulatory system in place to ensure that children are safe,” said Reed Shaw, Policy Counsel at GFI. “But the fact is, more and more children are getting injured every year due to unsafe working conditions. As we show in our analysis, the Department of Labor has the authority to fill the gap.”

Nearly a century has passed since Congress enacted the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which introduced critical protections for child workers in America. Despite this, too many children are still exploited. Injury rates for workers under 18 almost doubled between 2011 and 2020, particularly in agriculture where the risks are highest and the regulations are the weakest.

“At a time when child labor violations are on the rise and many states are simultaneously attempting to weaken child labor laws, there is an urgent need for the U.S. Department of Labor to use its authority to raise federal minimum standards to protect all children who work—no matter what state they live in,” said Nina Mast, Policy and Economic Analyst on EPI’s State Policy and Research team. 

“This release of executive action proposals stands as a call-to-action that more must be done to protect children from occupational dangers,” said Reid Maki, director of child labor advocacy for the National Consumers League and coordinator of the CLC. “Recently, we’ve witnessed wildly expanding hazardous child labor in the U.S. with kids working in meat-packing plants and auto-supply factories. Many of them work throughout the night in grave-yard shifts that leave them with no time to sleep before they attend school completely exhausted. We can and must do more to protect our children.”

To develop regulatory recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration, GFI, EPI, and CLC reviewed the DOL’s existing legal authority and identified steps to better protect child workers. Findings and recommended actions were sent to DOL and outlined in a new report, Protecting Children from Dangerous Work. The executive action proposals include:

  1. Making nonagricultural occupations safer: Expanding the list of nonagricultural occupations deemed too hazardous for workers under 18, such as jobs in security services and milling operations.
  2. Making agricultural occupations safer: Increasing protections for child agricultural workers under 16, including prohibiting children from handling toxic chemicals or operating dangerous machinery.
  3. Regulating working hours: Implementing restrictions on working hours, including a ban on overnight shifts for minors and mandatory rest breaks.

Young workers are being harmed every day. This report urges the Biden administration and the DOL to immediately update and enforce regulations and protect children from harm.

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About Governing for Impact

Governing for Impact (GFI) is a regulatory policy organization dedicated to ensuring the federal government works for working Americans, not corporate lobbyists. The policies we design and the legal insights we develop help increase opportunity for those not historically represented in regulatory policy implementation work: working people. For additional information about GFI, please visit https://governingforimpact.org/.

About Economic Policy Institute

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank working for the last 30 years to counter rising inequality, low wages and weak benefits for working people, slower economic growth, unacceptable employment conditions, and a widening racial wage gap. For additional information about EPI, please visit https://www.epi.org/.

About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

About the Child Labor Coalition

The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) is chaired and coordinated by the National Consumers League and strives to reduce exploitative child labor in the United States and abroad, bringing together over 35 groups to create a powerful voice that promotes public education, research, and advocacy to reduce the most harmful forms of child labor, as well as end child slavery, child trafficking, and child marriage. For additional information about CLC, please visit https://stopchildlabor.org/.

Labor Day’s dark reality: The alarming rise in child labor in America (Op-ed by NCL CEO Sally Greenberg was first published in USA Today, Sep 2, 2024)

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By Sally Greenberg, CEO of the National Consumers League and Chair of the Child Labor Coalition

It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that, on Labor Day, we devote our attention to a subset of the American population who should not be working, or at least not working in jobs that are entirely inappropriate for them.

According to the Department of Labor, the number of minors involved in documented child labor violations (not including the ones that are never reported) increased a mind-boggling 472 % between 2015 and 2023, with teenagers working late night shifts, too many hours, and working in hazardous environments. It can be speculated that, as labor shortages have worsened in this country, employers are turning to those under 18 to fill those gaps.

It’s not supposed to be this way.

Back in the early 20th-century industrialization era, children made up a large portion of the labor force in factories and mines.  This led to inhumane abuses and demands by groups like the National Consumers League to institute legal protections. Congress responded by passing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, which, among other provisions, limited the number of hours a minor could work, reduced their exposure to unsafe jobs, and ensured they didn’t have to work during the hours they should be in school.

This was a historic achievement for the National Consumers League, now celebrating its 125th anniversary. However, it’s a bitter reality that the organization is once again having to make child labor reforms an urgent priority.

Despite the safeguards of the FLSA, recent news reports highlight the alarming rise of child labor violations across the U.S., accompanied by a predominantly Republican and industry-led effort to attack state labor laws with the goal of weakening the FLSA. Over the past three years, twenty-eight states have introduced legislation undermining crucial protections for child laborers.

What is incomprehensible is that, instead of trying to correct a situation that is so obviously wrong, efforts have been made to weaken restrictions on hazardous work for teenagers and to extend the number of hours they can be called upon to work. Instead of trying to protect children, lawmakers are answering the calls of industry to make it easier for them to be exploited.

Children fall asleep in school today because they’ve come straight to class from working graveyard shifts. Teachers have contacted authorities when they found chemical burns on students’ limbs. A teenager had to have both legs amputated after an industrial accident while working for a construction company. And, most recently, a 16-year-old was electrocuted while working a roofing job.

We implore lawmakers to toughen existing penalties for employers who choose to ignore the law and exploit and endanger children.

On this Labor Day, it is right and necessary to ask our policymakers to renew their commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all our children and recognize their value as a part of this country’s future instead of as a cheap source of labor.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

NCL welcomes bill to curb child labor and other worker abuses

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July 31, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Consumers League (NCL) applauds the July 26th introduction of legislation in the House of Representatives to increase fines for labor violations for workers, including child laborers and wage theft victims. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), the ranking Democrat on the Education and Workforce Committee, introduced the Labor Enforcement to Securely (LET’S) Protect Workers Act, H.R. 9137, which currently has 14 cosponsors.

“‘The LET’S Protect Workers Act’ would deal a blow to unscrupulous employers who exploit workers,” said Sally Greenberg, chief executive officer of NCL. “This much-needed, comprehensive bill will help protect child workers, farmworkers, miners, and others at risk by increasing civil monetary penalties for labor abuses and unfair labor practices. NCL and the Child Labor Coalition, which NCL chairs, heartily endorse the legislation.”

“Unfortunately, shortcomings in our labor laws enable unethical employers to exploit workers, endanger children, and suppress the right to organize—with little accountability.” said Rep. Scott. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce the ‘LET’S Protect Workers Act,’ which will hold bad actors accountable and strengthen penalties for labor law violations. This bill will help level the playing field and, once again, restore the balance of power between workers and their employers,” said Rep. Scott.

The ‘LET’S Protect Workers Act,’ says Rep. Scott, will:

  • Increase civil penalties for violations of child labor, minimum wage and overtime, worker health and safety, and farmworker protection standards.
  • Improve mine safety and reliable funding of black lung benefits through new and increased civil monetary penalties and the option to shut down scofflaw operators.
  • Set new penalties for retaliation against workers who exercise their family and medical leave rights.
  • Strengthen enforcement of mental health parity requirements for employer-sponsored health plans.
  • Close a loophole that allows employers to escape penalties for failing to keep records of workplace injuries if OSHA does not detect the violation within six months.
  • Create new penalties for violations of the National Labor Relations Act, consistent with the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.

“The ‘LET’S Protect Workers Act’ will increase maximum fines for child labor violations by a factor of ten—from the current $15,000 to a maximum of $150,000,” said Reid Maki, NCL’s director of Child Labor Advocacy. “This bill is a much-needed boost to the current law and will help to deter a range of troubling labor violations.”

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 About the National Consumers League (NCL) 

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Guest blog: My background in farmwork

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By Luz Vazquez Hernandez, NCL Child Labor Coalition Summer Intern

Coming from a background of farmwork, I know the struggle against heat. At 14 years old, I began picking blueberries in Michigan during the summer, and from there on I learned to pick a variety of crops all over Michigan and my home base in Florida. I spent my weekends and any school days off – including summers – picking strawberries, squash, pickles, peppers, and jalapeños.

I learned to push my body and to handle extreme weather conditions. I suffered pains and aches that my parents felt every day. Complaining to my parents was not an option, and my body adapted.

Working in the fields during intense heat were the worst moments. Covered in layers from head to toe, with pants, a long-sleeve shirt, a hoodie, and a bandana was my daily attire. Covering most of my face, the bandana made it hard for me to breathe in extreme heat; at times, I felt my body, head, and eyes just shutting off. I felt I could not go any longer, but seeing my parents endure the heat and hold it in, I tried to do the same and distract myself from my thoughts.

It was common to see workers faint, as taking breaks in the shade and drinking water were not enough. I witnessed my mom, dad, and brother faint more than twice in 100-plus-degree weather, which always made me scared; somehow, we all managed to continue our 12 to 13-hour shifts because our paycheck depended on how many crops we picked.

We could not afford to take long lunch breaks – we often had a bite or two of lunch and a Gatorade, and then immediately went back into the fields. Before I turned 19, I stopped working as a harvester because I knew that I had greater opportunities than my parents and that farmwork was not the only job I could have.  I have made it a goal of mine to share my story and continue my education so that I can help create the changes that my community needs.

I am now a rising senior at Michigan State University, and I am interning with the National Consumers League (NCL) and the Child Labor Coalition (CLC). I am grateful because I get to work closely on policies affecting my community and interests. However, knowing that I get to work inside an office with air-conditioning makes me feel guilty because I know that my parents and younger siblings are in Michigan picking crops in this summer heat, sweating, thirsty, and hoping for a cloud to bring shade to them.

As a nation, the United States needs to take immediate action to protect farmworkers from extreme heat exposure. As temperatures rise, farmworkers’ suffering is increasing. Farmworkers feed America and deserve protection.

A current legislative effort addressing heat protection is the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act, which sets standards needed to protect workers from heat, such as having drinking water accessible, requiring rest breaks, and providing access to shade. The bill would require employers to educate and train workers to recognize and prevent heat illness and mandate emergency protocols.

In a separate initiative, the Biden administration recently proposed a set of regulations to protect workers in extreme heat. The rules focus on including heat safety regulations at work, and they direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to help establish a nationwide protection standard. These two initiatives are vital if we want to protect farmworkers from heat illness.

After years of seeing my parents toil in the fields and working beside them, I feel the need to be an advocate for my community. Interning with the NCL and CLC, I have become acquainted with numerous congressional bills, but the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act is one that would affect me and fellow farmworkers. The work of the National Consumers League and Child Labor Coalition and groups like the National Heat Network, organized by Public Citizen, gives me hope that soon farmworkers and other outdoor workers who work in extreme heat will have safer working conditions.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.

NCL’s Child Labor Coalition praises the Biden Administration’s proposed rule to protect indoor and outdoor workers from extreme heat

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July 3, 2024

Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831

WASHINGTON, DC – The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) strongly supports the Biden Administration’s proposed rule to protect indoor and outdoor workers from extreme heat. The U.S. Department of Labor announced the rule on July 2. The CLC is chaired by the National Consumers League (NCL) and has 37 organizational members, including numerous farmworker organizations and nonprofits. Both the CLC and NCL are members of the national Heat Stress Network, organized by Public Citizen.

Read the full proposed rule.

While the proposed rule does not recommend age-specific guidelines for child or teen workers, they would benefit greatly from OSHA-mandated heat-related safety protections. Extreme heat can lead to heat stroke, injuries, illnesses, and even death.

Exemptions to U.S. child labor law allow children in agriculture to work at age 12, and, in some cases, even younger, and those exemptions allow them to work unlimited hours, when school is not in session.

Reid Maki, director of child labor advocacy at the Child Labor Coalition, emphasizes the dire conditions faced by outdoor workers: “Farm workers perform physical labor in high heats without the benefit of shade. They work long hours under the hot sun with temperatures well exceeding 90 degrees, sometimes over 100 degrees without a break. They risk passing out, heat stroke, and death. We are most worried about children and teens. There is no doubt that putting rules in place will save lives.”

“President Biden and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su have taken an important first step,” says Maki. “The proposed rule provides a pivotal opportunity to have a national conversation and develop comprehensive OSHA regulations to protect workers across many industries. We strongly urge the Department to add specific protections for children working in agriculture. We know that children are at increased risk of heat illness.”

The Protect Indoor and Outdoor Workers from Extreme Heat rule proposes several critical measures to address worker safety:

  1. Heat Risk Evaluation: Employers would be required to evaluate heat risks and develop comprehensive plans to mitigate these risks, especially when temperatures exceed 90 degrees.
  2. Rest Breaks and Hydration: Mandatory rest breaks and access to drinking water are key components to ensure workers stay safe and hydrated.
  3. Acclimatization Protocol: Employers must develop protocols to help new employees or those returning from vacation or sick leave adjust to the heat during their first week back.
  4. Heat Illness and Emergency Response Plan: This includes appointing individuals to implement heat emergency procedures, instructions for transporting affected employees to emergency medical facilities, and procedures for responding to signs of heat-related illness or heat stroke.

The proposed rule extends to indoor work environments as well, ensuring that workers in hot indoor settings are also protected. However, the proposed rule specifically excludes professions such as firefighters and emergency response teams.

Employers would also be required to provide training, implement procedures to respond to heat-related illnesses and take immediate action to assist workers experiencing symptoms of heat emergencies.

Summer heatwaves are upon us, and while many of us retreat to air-conditioned spaces, countless workers endure the blistering sun and soaring temperatures. For those laboring in the fields, on construction sites, and in other outdoor environments, extreme heat can be deadly. Record-breaking temperatures across the United States create life-and-death situations for outdoor workers, and each year, thousands of workers suffer from heat-related illnesses and hundreds die.

Whether working indoors or outdoors in high heat, the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness are the same and include weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, fevers, overheating, and muscle cramps. According to the Mayo Clinic, workers are encouraged to exercise caution when temperatures are between 80 and 90 degrees (Fahrenheit) and extreme caution when they are between 90-103 degrees. Temperatures higher than that are considered dangerous.

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About the National Consumers League (NCL)

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization.  Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad.  For more information, visit nclnet.org.