According to the Department of Labor (DOL), recent years have seen an enormous increase in the amount of child labor violations within the United States. For example, the DOL found child labor violations affecting 5,792 children in fiscal year (FY) 2023, up from 3,876 in FY 2022. In response, Congress, the Biden administration, and the press have turned their focus to the issue. Though the high-profile cases were in manufacturing facilities and food production, all employers must be diligent about combatting child labor. The DOL has made it clear that it intends to hold companies accountable for violations by contractors and suppliers. Even companies not employing workers in targeted industries are required to ensure their supply chains are free of child labor.
