Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has paved the way for republican lawmakers to roll back child labor regulations. HB1410, also known as the Youth Hiring Act of 2023, allows children in Arkansas to be easily exploited by not only employers but also the government itself. This act, which has been signed into law by Sanders, revises the child labor laws to get rid of working permits while also removing verification of age for those who are under 16 and working. While this act should only apply to those who are 14 or 15 years of age, how can an employer deem if a child is too young to work without verification of age? Furthermore, Sanders is your typical far-right policy maker which means that she claims she's a proponent of children's rights. Ironic is it not? Seeing Sanders work so hard to repel what little protections child laborers have just so these companies can exploit their workforce even further. It is irrefutable that lawmakers work in conjunction with corporations to do what is best for them instead of what is best for the general welfare. This law also comes right as meat packing facilities across the U.S. hired hundreds of children. Arkansas actually had two meat packing facilities that employed children illegally. This was discovered across various states as children were falling asleep in class, because these kids were working overnight from 11pm-5am. These children were cleaning machines utilized to cut meat. These types of machines have known to cause amputations and even result in death.
With less previsions in place to protect children, there will only be more cases such as the multiple meat packaging facilities across the nation who employed, endangered, and exploited children for their own monetary gain. While it is certainly grim that legislation such as the Youth Hiring Act was not only proposed but also signed into law, it is even more appalling that the federal government has not intervened. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed in 1938 that includes protections for children 14-17years old who are working outside of the agricultural industry. What accountability is there if the laws in place to protect those who are most vulnerable are not being upheld and protected?
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