APPROXIMATELY 400,000 children, the majority of
them Hispanic, are agricultural laborers in the
United States under the protection of the law, a
minors’ rights organization has confirmed, PL
reports.
For decades, minors, some as young as eight years
old, have been working in that sector using
dangerous work tools and pesticides, according to
Davis Strauss, director of the Association of
Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP).
Ernie Flores, president of the AFOP board of
directors, warned that 20% of deaths in the
agricultural industry in this country correspond to
minors.
The Fair Labor Standards Act allows children aged
12 and over to work in the fields for long hours
under an intense sun; however, those same children
are prohibited from working in air-conditioned
offices or even in fast food restaurants.
Facing this serious situation, Congresswoman
Lucille Royball-Allard has introduced legislation to
raise the established age to 16, and to 18 years for
certain activities involving more risk.
In addition, the measure would increase fines for
violations of these child labor laws from $11,000 to
$15,000 and establish prison sentences of up to five
years for offenders.
According to the Department of Education, half of
the children working in agricultural activities
never graduate from high school.
