Since 1938, federal law has banned minors from long hours and dangerous work, but recent labor violations raise alarms among advocates.
As labor shortages continue across several industries, a number of states are trying a controversial new strategy: making it easier to employ teenagers.
The New Jersey bill allowed minors between 16 and 18 to work up to 50 hours a week during their summer break. A common theme throughout each of these efforts is this central question: do these changes open up more opportunities for exploitation? Detractors of the bills, like child advocacy groups, say yes.
Federal records obtained by Scripps News describe teens suffering injuries from chemical burns, then going to school and falling asleep in class. One 17-year-old quit high school because they were working and tired from cleaning. According to data from the Department of Labor, the number of minors employed in violation of child labor laws has been on a steep decline since 2001. But since 2015, violations have been creeping up.
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