![]() ![]() A farm worker picks grapes in October 2021, in the Kern County town of Lamont, California, where record heat fueled drought and wildfires. “We’re just bringing parity to child labor protections that other industries have,” Ruiz said. The bill aims to close the age, time, and risk gaps for children working on farms, and increases penalties for child labor violations. Raul Ruiz, a Democrat from California, where about half of America’s produce is grown, introduced the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety, or the CARE Act. Maki said the carveouts are especially troubling when you consider that agriculture is one of the more dangerous sectors in America, and the deadliest occupation class for minors. Kids at any age can work on their parent’s farm. Kids can perform agricultural tasks designated as “hazardous” by the US Department of Labor (DOL), like operating heavy machinery, at age 16, while similarly hazardous work in other fields is restricted until age 18.Įven kids under 12 can work on farms if the farm’s staff size is small enough, or if the DOL grants the farm a special waiver. Under federal law, 12-year-olds can work on farms for an unlimited number of hours so long as they don’t miss school and have the permission of their parents, while there are federal limits on the number of hours 14- and 15-year-olds in every other industry can work. On top of an age gap, there’s also a time gap. ![]() (Aguilar, who is now 20, is interning with Maki at the Child Labor Coalition this summer.) “A 12-year-old can’t work in this air-conditioned office I have here, making copies, but we’ll let that same kid go into the field in 100 degree heat and do back-breaking work,” said Reid Maki, director of child labor advocacy at the National Consumers League and the Child Labor Coalition. It’s because the agriculture sector plays by a different set of employment rules than most of the rest of the economy. ![]() In many states, including Colorado, children as young as 12 can harvest tobacco, milk 1,500-pound cows, or work in fruit and vegetable production like Aguilar, but they can’t tear movie tickets or bag groceries. Sign up here.Īguilar’s first summer of employment was technically illegal - though hardly unusual in agriculture - but once she turned 12, it was perfectly legal for her to work long, grueling hours under a scorching sun, even though her peers would have to wait until they were 14 to work in nearly any non-agricultural job. Twice a week, we’ll send you a roundup of the best ideas and solutions for tackling the world’s biggest challenges - and how to get better at doing good. Sign up for the Future Perfect newsletter ![]()
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