Harrisburg, Pa. — According to the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, last year Pennsylvania saw a 43% increase in child labor law violation investigations. The Bureau investigated 402 cases in 2022 and 574 in 2023, and the trend appears to be rising still.
Overall, the Bureau investigated more than 5,200 complaints of alleged labor law violations — a 27% increase in investigations compared to about 4,100 conducted in 2022.
This disturbing trend appears to be occurring nationwide. To address the issue, Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor and Industry (L&I) Secretary Nancy A. Walker met with the regional administrator of the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Wage and Hour Division and state officials from Oregon and Missouri.
The group discussed innovative strategies to combat the nationwide rise in child labor law violations.
“We are thrilled to be at the table with our sister labor agencies to talk about the trends we are seeing, innovative enforcement techniques and how our respective states are addressing the dramatic rise in child labor violations,” said Secretary Walker. “I cannot stress how important it is for Pennsylvania to invest in protecting our young workers, ensuring their safety over profits and holding bad actors accountable.”
The discussion had a particular focus on the rise in cases involving dangerous conditions, injuries, and fatalities. The conversation also targeted the complexities of enforcing state child labor laws and the training and partnerships that agencies use to improve enforcement efforts.
Additionally, the group discussed communications with media and stakeholders to enhance enforcement strategies. Panelists shared impactful messaging techniques for communicating with various audiences about child labor violations and how to explore partnerships that can better address the issue.
Pennsylvania's Child Labor Act was created to protect the health, safety, and welfare of minors employed in the Commonwealth by limiting employment in certain establishments and occupations; restricting work hours; regulating work conditions; and requiring work permits for children.
The Act has distinct provisions for the age categories of under 14; 14-15; and 16-17. All minors under age 16 must have a written statement from a parent or guardian acknowledging the duties and hours of employment and granting permission for work. Minors must also obtain a work permit from their school district.
Except for minors who work in newspaper delivery, no minors may work more than six consecutive days. In addition, all minors must be provided a 30-minute meal period on or before five consecutive hours of work. Full- or part-time minors must be paid at least minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
L&I's Bureau of Labor Law Compliance responds to complaints filed by people who suspect violations of the Child Labor Act and other Pennsylvania labor laws. Anyone can file a complaint on L&I's website using an online submission form .
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