Federal CARE Act Aims to Update Child Labor Standards for Agriculture

In late November, Congressman Raul Ruiz, a California member of the U.S. House of Representatives, reintroduced the federal Children’s Act for Responsible Employment, or CARE Act, which would apply the same child labor protections used in other industries to minors working in agriculture. Current federal law allows children as young as 12 to work in agricultural settings for longer periods of time than would be permitted in non-agricultural jobs and to perform tasks that are considered hazardous.

The CARE Act seeks to align age requirements, work hour rules, and hazardous task restrictions for agricultural work with national standards. It would also increase enforcement and expand federal data collection on youth injuries and fatalities. Ruiz noted that a child dies in an agriculture-related incident about every three days and called for stronger safeguards.

Although the current version of the bill has no cosponsors, earlier versions have included some support from Southeastern lawmakers. National groups active across the region, such as the Child Labor Coalition and Human Rights Watch, have also backed the legislation.