US child labor violations in the retail and service industries: findings from a national survey of working adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated child labor violations among US adolescents working in the retail and service industries.


METHODS
We used interview data from a nationally representative sample of working adolescents, and investigated reports of select child labor violations (e.g., hours, equipment, and work permits). We computed weighted percentages of respondents reporting each type of discrete (and aggregated) violation.


RESULTS
Nearly 37% of respondents reported a violation of the hazardous occupations orders (i.e., prohibited jobs or use of equipment), and 40% reported a work permit violation. Fewer than 2% reported working more than the maximum weekly hours allowed during the school year, but 11% reported working past the latest hour allowed on a school night, and 15% reported working off the clock.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant numbers of US adolescents are employed in violation of the child labor laws and as a result are exposed to safety risks. Although our data did not allow for an analysis of enforcement, our findings demonstrate gaps in employer compliance with the law. We suggest that closer attention to enforcement policy and practice is needed.
Rauscher
Kimberly J
KJ
University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center, 137 East Franklin St, Suite 500, CB #7505, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. kimberly_rauscher@unc.edu
Runyan
Carol W
CW
Schulman
Michael D
MD
Bowling
J Michael
JM
D000293:Adolescent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004651:Employment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012449:Safety / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012574:Schools; D013995:Time; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce