End Child Labor in U.S. Agriculture: Support the CARE Act

The Issue

Hundreds of thousands of children are employed as farmworkers in the United States today. Though child labor laws are in place for many sectors, agriculture has a major labor law loophole that exploits children.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), children often work 10 or more hours a day with sharp tools, heavy machinery, and dangerous pesticides, and die at four times the rate of other working youth. They are often unable to keep up with their peers and drop out of school in alarming numbers.

By passing the newly updated Children’s Act for Responsible Employment, or CARE Act (HR 3564), our Senators and Representatives can take a stand against child labor in U.S. agriculture.

avatar of the starter
Brittany ShootPetition StarterI'm a freelance writer, editor, and critic. I'm one of the editors of Elevate Difference, a frequent contributor to a variety of progressive publications including Bitch and RH Reality Check, and my work has been republished by The New York Times and ZNet. My writing often focuses on gender equity, the environment, food, animal rights, and class disparities in the U.S. I'm a former writer for both the Poverty in America and Women's Rights causes.
Media inquiries
This petition had 12,526 supporters

The Issue

Hundreds of thousands of children are employed as farmworkers in the United States today. Though child labor laws are in place for many sectors, agriculture has a major labor law loophole that exploits children.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), children often work 10 or more hours a day with sharp tools, heavy machinery, and dangerous pesticides, and die at four times the rate of other working youth. They are often unable to keep up with their peers and drop out of school in alarming numbers.

By passing the newly updated Children’s Act for Responsible Employment, or CARE Act (HR 3564), our Senators and Representatives can take a stand against child labor in U.S. agriculture.

avatar of the starter
Brittany ShootPetition StarterI'm a freelance writer, editor, and critic. I'm one of the editors of Elevate Difference, a frequent contributor to a variety of progressive publications including Bitch and RH Reality Check, and my work has been republished by The New York Times and ZNet. My writing often focuses on gender equity, the environment, food, animal rights, and class disparities in the U.S. I'm a former writer for both the Poverty in America and Women's Rights causes.
Media inquiries

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on May 10, 2010