WASHINGTON: Working in industrial laundries at the age of 14, labouring up to 35 hours a week on top of school — some US states are relaxing the restrictions to employing minors, despite rising cases of exploitation.
At least 5 states have amended their laws covering adolescent job regulations, with Arkansas being the latest to witness changes take effect in August.
But such shifts come as the number of illegally employed children has surged by 69% since 2018, according to Labor Department data, AFP reported.
Coordinator at the Child Labor Coalition, Reid Maki, said that removing the work permit process for minors in Arkansas might sound like it is not a big problem, but, infact, it is a pretty impactful law.
He said that eventually this will allow some children to end up in jobs they really should not be in. The work permit requirement should not have been removed.
Dangerous work still illegal
A spokesperson for Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders disagreed with that characterization, saying it is still illegal for children to work dangerous jobs.
He said that this law simply makes it legal for anyone in Arkansas aged fourteen and up to work without a permission slip from the government.
