Schatz, Young Introduce Legislation to Help Stop Child Labor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced legislation to help stop illegal child labor. The bipartisan Stop Child Labor Act would increase maximum fines for violations, establish new criminal penalties, allow victims harmed by violations to file private lawsuits, and encourage collaboration between employers and government to stop child labor violations before they occur.

"Right now, our laws are allowing some of the worst employers to get away with exploiting kids for labor with nothing more than weak fines," said Senator Schatz. "Our bill will strengthen our child labor laws, hold bad employers accountable, and protect kids from this illicit practice."

"Recent data shows that child labor exploitation is not a thing of the past or a problem limited to the developing world. We have a responsibility to enforce the law, protect American children, and ensure that those who exploit them are held accountable," said Senator Young. "This bipartisan bill would strengthen our nation's labor laws to do just that."

Federal child labor violations are at or near record levels, according to the most recent enforcement data from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In fiscal year 2025, the Department's Wage and Hour Division closed 976 cases involving child labor violations, more than in any year since the Great Recession, including 773 employed in violation of hazardous occupation standards. That represents a 72 percent increase in affected children since fiscal year 2019. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) imposes weak fines for violations, making it financially easier for companies to skirt child labor laws. In 2023, it was revealed that migrant child labor is being used for hazardous jobs in factories making products for well-known brands like Cheetos, Fruit of the Loom, and Lucky Charms. That same year, DOL found that Packers Sanitation Services Inc., a sanitation contractor to major meat producers including JBS Foods, had employed at least 102 children, ages 13 to 17, in hazardous occupations on overnight shifts at 13 meat processing facilities across eight states. At least three minors were injured, but DOL could assess only the statutory maximum of $15,138 per count.

To stop child labor and hold bad employers accountable, the Stop Child Labor Act would:

• Increase child labor violation civil penalties to:
• • $5,000 minimum - $132,270 maximum for routine violations;
  • $25,000 minimum - $601,150 maximum for each violation that causes the death or serious injury of a minor;
• Create criminal penalties for a repeat or willful violation of child labor laws to include a fine of up to $50,000 and a year in jail;
• Allow children harmed by violations of the law to seek compensation;
• Start a grant program aimed at helping employers recognize, avoid, and prevent child labor violations; and
• Permanently establish a National Advisory Committee on Child Labor.

The bill is endorsed by the Child Labor Coalition, National Consumers League, Global March Against Child Labor, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, and Center for Law and Social Policy.

The full text of the bill is available here.

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