Dwain Northey (Gen X)

https://www.vox.com/policy/2023/5/3/23702464/child-labor-laws-youth-migrants-work-shortage

I wrote once already about how Arkansas and their new Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is rolling back age requirements to hire 14-year-olds but sadly that’s not the only state that’s wants to harken back to the good old days of child labor.

Republican law makers are trying to reduce the age from 18 down to 14 to 16 years olds in dangerous industries like logging and meat processing plants. Wisconsin is trying to allow hiring of 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in restaurants, those children could not work behind the bar, but they would be allowed to serve patrons alcohol if they were seated at a table.

In the News today a McDonalds in Kentucky was found to have two workers that were 10-year-olds, and these children were working as late as 2am. Three McDonald’s franchisees cited in the investigation owns a total of 62 locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio, and were found to employ 305 children working more than legally permitted hours and performing job tasks prohibited by law for their age. The investigation found the franchisees employed 14- and 15-year-olds who were working outside of and over the number of hours minors are permitted to work and exceeding the daily and weekly limits – including cases where the workers were on the job during school hours.

The Republican Law makers that are trying to reduce age requirements claim is that there is a worker shortage and allowing children as young as 14 would fill the worker gap. I am going to have to call BULL SHIT on their claim, there are worker out there willing to work but employers aren’t willing to pay a living wage. My assumption is that these places that want to hire children want them because they know that they presumably live at home, and they can pay them subpar wages. I mean why would you pay a person $15 an hour, which no one can survive on, when you can exploit a child for $10 an hour or less.

This is exploitation at its core, the same reason that employers put help wanted adds in Mexico because they know that they can pay those workers less and they won’t or can’t say anything about it. My big question with children as young as 10 working at a McDonalds is where are their parents? Even kids that are 14-year-olds, where are their parents? Are all these orphans, or runaways that are prime to be exploited?

Republican continually accuse other of grooming children by subjecting them to men that are dress as women and reading them stories… anyone remember Mrs. Doubtfire. These are the same law makers that want children as young as 14 to enter the labor market. Same law makers that turn a blind eye while children are molested. Same law makers that want to make it easier to get a gun. All they are concerned about is the illusion that they are pious but really only care about the monetary engine that fuels their greed and need for power.

Let children be children. Employers pay a wage that an adult can survive and thrive on and trust me there would be a labor shortage.