"Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself"

Eric Clapton is a wise ,wise man.

The U.S. has long been critized by other countries around the world, as well as some of its own citizens, for medling in the affairs of those other countries often without the request of said country.

"The United States spends over $25 million a year - more than all other countries combined - to eliminate child labor abroad, yet is tolerating exploitative child labor in its own backyard," stated Coursen-Neff, author of the report and deputy director of the Children's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch.

Under the current child labor law in the United States, the employment of children under age 14 is probited and children under 16 are limited to three hours of work on school days. However, these restrictions exclude agriculture. As long as the child is at least 12 years of age and is not working during school hours, there is no limit to how many hours the child can work.

The current child labor law was drafted in the 1930's when most farms were family owned and parents supervised. Now, far different from then, dangerous heavy machinery and poisonous pesticides/chemicals define the agricultural sector the U.S. economy. The farm workers, including the children, operate the machines without proper supervision or training often resulting in serious injuries and death. According to a study conducted and report filed by Human Rights Watch these workers suffer fatalities at more than four times the rate of children working in other jobs. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have made no pesticide safety requlations specific to children.

Also from their report, Human Rights Watch were told in interviews with children workers farmworkers that some work without the most basic protection like shoes or gloves. Many also divulged that their employers did not provide drinking water, means of washing their hands, or facilities to use the restroom. The majority of the children Human Rights Watch interviewed have been held back in school one or more times.

Like most people living in America I was dumbfounded as to how this is even legal? How it's not a topic of heavier debate or priority for our national government. Children are the future right? That's why we are encouraged from the time we enter middle school to consider what we want to do with our future, what college, what career?

Granted many laws in the U.S. have been around for decades, even centuries now, but agriculture has changed so drastically that it is completely beyond me how a reform or reconsideration of laws and regulation regarding those involved were not reevaluated. I have enough qualms with the agriculture industry in this country as is, this tops it.

The Human Rights Watch website sheds some light as to why this has been succesfully 'under wraps' as it states that most of these children are those of undocumented workers, or workers with short-term work visas. Although they children are U.S. born, thus citizens, their families would rather not draw any extra attention to themselves for fear of deportation.

I'm positive there are those of you, as you read this, thinking to yourself why the U.S. should protect these workers if they are illegals or non-citizens just here to work? Remember, this is the case for most of the parents and adults not the U.S. born child workers. As citizens, I would say that our laws should extend to them, but there are no laws of protection to extend.

As I mentioned earlier, agriculture in the U.S. is 100% different than in the early 1900's. As it grew and became more industrialized to meet a larger demand on its market, it's labor force needed to increase porportionally and most importantly, cheaply. This is when commercial growers and meat packing companies began to accept and actively recruit illegal immigrants.

It is my theory that this is why new laws have not been put in place to regulate safety more sufficiently for workers, especially children. The 'under-the-table' nature of this workforce operation would have to be exposed.

Is this the price that the workers pay and accept for being allowed into the country illegaly, and consequently their children? Does that make it okay?


Messy, messy.

Check out my main source!
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/04/us-child-farmworkers-dangerous-lives