When one thinks about child labor violations, images of sweatshops in foreign countries may come to mind. Or illegal child labor practices may be associated the U.S. in the early 20th century. This was what triggered several child labor protection laws. But for some industries in the U.S., specifically the food service sector, child labor violations persist. This is particularly true for fast-food franchises where infractions have been rising for a decade. Financial pressures and talent shortages account for some of these practices, as well as the fact that many teens in particular want to work to gain experience and earn some cash. But at what point do working hours for adolescents go from beneficial to excessive? That seems to be a matter of opinion.

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At a federal level, there are several guidelines and laws in defining legal and illegal child labor practices. This has set the standard for many years. However, many states, which share responsibility in monitoring child labor violations, are revising these standards, and many lobbyist groups would like to see child labor laws significantly relaxed to better fit modern times. Indeed, much has changed since child labor laws were originally written and passed. This includes changes in the benefits of public and college education as well as shifts in needed job skills. Certainly, abuses and exploitation of child labor is wrong and undermines their wellbeing. But determining what’s excessive and what’s not needs to be reevaluated given shifts in society.
An Overview of Child Labor Law Protections
For some time, federal law has defined what reflects illegal child labor practices. Depending on a child’s age, different protections have been put in place. For example, hiring a child under the age of 13 years is prohibited. Likewise, those age 14 or 15 years have a restricted number of hours and times they can work. These restrictions are mainly on the weekdays when school is in session. For example, teens are not supposed to work after 7pm on a school evening or more than three hours on such nights. They are also not allowed to operate dangerous equipment or participate in some risky job types. These laws were designed to ensure teens and children had a chance to thrive in school and receive adequate rest. And similarly, they were to protect children and adolescents from employer exploitation.
While these are indeed standards in defining illegal child labor, states also have a say in the matter. In fact, states are also tasked with enforcing state laws and child labor violations. But over the last decade, several states have relaxed such laws, extending times and hours that teens may work. States like Iowa, Ohio, and New Hampshire are among the 19 states pursuing such efforts. Specific areas of interest include allowing longer periods of time and later hours on school evenings. In addition, some seek to lower the age of teens in serving alcohol to patrons. Lobbyist groups like the National Restaurant Association are behind such efforts, especially since talent has been increasingly difficult to find. And of course, other groups see these trends as undermining child protections in the workplace.

Recent Upticks in Child Labor Violations
Despite some states choosing to make child labor laws less restrictive, the rates of child labor violations have increased recently. However, not all sectors are affected to the same extent. By far, the food service sector has the most illegal child labor infractions, and the majority of these are in fast-food franchises. According to recent reports, child labor violations have increase six-fold in the last decade. This compares to the three-fold increase overall that occurred during these same 10 years. In addition, a sizable percentage of teens in the food service sector experienced illegal child labor practices. Specifically, 75% of teens in this industry accounted for 4,700 violations. These statistics not only demonstrate the frequency with which these events are occurring. But they also reflect the pressures business are under in the food service area.
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Among the companies with the highest child labor violations are those in the fast-food sector. McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Zaxby’s Wendys, Sonic, and Chick-Fil-A top the list overall. But it’s typically not corporate-owned stores that are at fault. Instead, franchises are by far the more worrisome area when it comes to illegal child labor practices. The reason for this is three-fold. First, labor shortages force franchises to pursue teen workers to fill the gaps. Secondly, high franchise fees encourage leveraging these same low-cost workers to make ends meet. And lastly, many franchise managers lack knowledge of child labor laws or the ability to properly monitor teen hours. These factors have contributed to these rising infractions, and they aren’t likely to go away any time soon.
A Fresh Perspective on Youth Labor Markets

From a basic perspective, it’s essential that employers do not exploit or abuse teens seeking jobs. Adequate time for rest, opportunities for education, and safe working conditions and tasks are crucial. But times have changed in the last few decades, and prior laws concerning child labor may be outdated. As is the case in many instances, extensive government oversight can be counterproductive. This may well be the case today when it comes to the rise in child labor violations. Education has become increasingly online, and skillsets needed for the future may be better learned on-the-job rather than in a classroom. This is already evident given the rising number of college grads struggling to find reasonable jobs after graduation.
As we move into the future, there will undoubtedly be additional demands for new labor skills. Generative AI is already triggering such shifts with companies beginning to look for different skills among workers. Based on the rate at which technologies are evolving, employment-based learning could be a better long-term solution. Didactic instruction will always have its place. But teens able to work as a complement to such instruction could excel in their future careers. And in the process, employers could better fill immediate job positions while cultivating talents needed for the future. Child exploitation in labor is bad, but the recent rise in child labor violations may not truly reflect this. That’s why it’s time to reassess what’s legal and illegal child labor practices in the modern era. Continuing along the same path that exists currently is likely to be a lose-lose for all.
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