In February, the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services announced the creation of the Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation to enhance federal efforts to protect children from exploitative situations following a 69% increase in findings of illegal child labor between 2018 and 2022, according to DOL.
The task force participants include the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice and State, all of which are taking steps to improve cross-training, outreach, education and health outcomes of children that could be subject to child labor.
DOL holds all employers accountable to ensure child labor is removed from supply chains. This includes further scrutinizing companies doing business with employers using illegal child labor, increasing corporate accountability for system abuses of child labor laws. With the increased reliance on staffing agencies and subcontracting, host companies often claim they are unaware or unable to control child labor issues happening at their worksites.
The maximum civil money penalty under current law for a child labor violation is $15,138 per child. DOL is calling on Congress to increase civil monetary penalties.
There have been reports of illegal child labor in the roofing industry. Contractors should consider taking the following precautionary steps, which were recommended in a letter the Department of Agriculture sent to meat and poultry processors in April.
- Determine whether illegal child labor is being used anywhere in your supply chain.
- Include strong language in supplier, subcontractor and vendor contracts to prohibit illegal child labor, including but not limited to putting in place stronger sanctions for doing so; regular unannounced investigations of vendor activity; and more effective reporting, monitoring or auditing where appropriate.
- Adopt standards for suppliers, subcontractors and vendors that will better guard against the use of illegal child labor, including but not limited to hiring high-road contractors that create procedures for workers to report labor law violations without fear of retaliation, particularly contractors who have effective and trusted partnerships with workers, unions and/or community organizations.
Learn more about the Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation.
