Since the establishment of the modern United States economy, a startling truth persists: children remain a fundamental, even indispensable, component of the American labor structure. Despite decades of labor reform, child labor remains deeply embedded in the fabric of the American economy. Investigators are increasingly finding children working in hazardous industries like agriculture and manufacturing, often enduring grueling schedules. [1] A widely reported U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) case involving Packers Sanitation Services highlights this troubling reality. The DOL discovered over 100 minors illegally employed in dangerous conditions at Packers’ meat processing facilities across eight states. [2] It should be noted that many of these minors lacked English fluency, though the DOL did not verify their immigration status. [3] While language barriers and potential immigration vulnerabilities may play a role, recent cases show that the child labor crisis cuts across a wide range of backgrounds. Between March and April 2024, the DOL reported seven cases of child labor violations across multiple states, including Tennessee (Greenville [4] and Crossville [5]), Vermont, [6] Alabama, [7] Ohio, [8] Utah, [9] and Northern Virginia. [10] These cases involve minors currently working in industries like food processing and construction, often in hazardous or exploitative conditions. Together, they underscore a national crisis that cuts across geography, industry, and legal status, one that calls for urgent, systemic action.

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