Congressional approaches toward remedies to problems of child labor

Hearings by the Employment and Housing Subcommittee and nationwide "sweeps" by the Labor Department focused attention in 1990 on the growing problem of child labor. Fast food and retail establishments employ the majority of minors and were found to have the most violations. Although the bulk of violations affected hours of work (too many or too late), many involved prohibited hazardous occupations. Reform measures were introduced in the House and the Senate. They would limit hours of work during school weeks for 16-17-year-olds, require school work permits, improve protection of farm workers, increase civil and criminal penalties for willful violations, and provide for national reports on employment of and injuries to workers under age 18. As of May 1992, the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources has voted out its bill, but floor action has not been scheduled. The House Subcommittee on Employment Standards has taken no action.