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Earlier this month, federal agents raided a poultry plant in Kidron, Ohio and found over two dozen minor children illegally employed in meat sanitation and processing.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from working in hazardous occupations -- such as meatpacking plants and other industrialized industries -- but over the past few years there has been a movement in states with right-wing leadership to severely weaken existing child labor laws.

Data released by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) revealed that child labor violations skyrocketed in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 fiscal year that ended on September 30, 2023. There were 5,792 minors working in violation of child labor laws -- an increase of 88% from 2019.

Due to the weak fines posed by the FLSA, unscrupulous corporations find it financially easier to skirt laws and pay the fine. Now new legislation introduced in the Senate seeks to change that. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Todd Young (R-IN) are sponsoring the Stop Child Labor Act, which would increase fines and criminal penalties, allow child victims to seek compensation, and establish a National Advisory Committee on Child Labor.

Sign the petition to Congress and become a citizen co-sponsor of the Fair Labor Standards Act.