Consumer Group Voices Outrage at Congressional Weakening of Protections for Working Minors

New Law to Allow Amish Minors to Work under Hazardous Conditions Outlawed for Other American Youth

Release Date: February 3, 2004
Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org

WASHINGTON, DC—The nation’s oldest consumer advocacy organization expressed its outrage today at the passage of legislation that will allow Amish minors to work in formerly prohibited hazardous industries. Hidden within the language of the $820 billion omnibus appropriations bill signed into law by President Bush last month, the exemption for Amish children will result in teens as young as 14 working in sawmills and woodworking shops, within specified parameters. This is a departure from current child labor laws, which protect all minors under age 18 from working in such dangerous settings. Language exempting Amish teens from existing law was introduced by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), in the Senate, and by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA) in the House, making it to the omnibus appropriations bill—and passing in the House—last December. The Senate passed the omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 2673) on Jan. 22, and President Bush signed it into law on Jan. 23.

“This exception sets a dangerous precedent for further weakening of child labor laws,” said Linda Golodner, NCL president and Child Labor Coalition co-chair. “Exempting specific groups from already too-weak child labor laws has the potential of sending us down a slippery slope toward no protection for anyone.” In a letter sent to the Senate, the Child Labor Coalition, which is run by NCL, warned members against passing such irresponsible legislation. “There is no scientific evidence to support that the safety precautions specified in this exemption will protect working youth from injury,” argued the CLC (www.stopchildlabor.org).

The passage of the Amish exemption is the most recent example of America’s failure to protect its working minors. The U.S. government, which is increasingly under scrutiny by international organizations for its weak and ineffective child labor laws, oversees a country of working youth in which one teen is injured on the job every 30 seconds, and one young worker dies every five days. Recently, the United Nations criticized the United States for failing to comply with anti-child labor provisions we’ve endorsed. During its annual November meeting, the Committee of Experts of the UN’s International Labor Organization questioned U.S. compliance with ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor, a convention ratified by the United States more than four years ago. Considering America’s ongoing child labor problems in agriculture and neglect regarding the definition of hazardous work, the Committee of Experts cited concern over government inaction on child labor bills and disregard for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommendations to update the list of hazardous occupations in the United States for youth under age 18. To view the NIOSH Report, visit: http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/niosh_recs_to_dol_050302.pdf 

For more information on the Amish exemption, visit www.stopchildlabor.org/amish/.

###

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America's pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to identify, protect, represent, and advance the economic and social interests of consumers and workers. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Fraud.org • LifeSmarts • StopChildLabor.org • SOSRx • Fields Of Hope • Phishinginfo.org