After trying to find some particular answers about investigations of child labor in Washington State, a man from Labor and Industries called me with all the answers I had been seeking. He was very helpful, left his email, phone number so if more questions arise, he will get me the answers. He worked for Department of Labor and Industries, Employment Standards and supervises child labor investigations. I learned the following:
- There are special investigators for child labor.
- They make unannounced visitations (that is required by law).
- Three things will trigger an investigation, general information, a complaint, or an accident.
- When asked if he knew where there were concentrations of migrant children, he didn't and he didn't know of anywhere in the state where that information is collected.
- LNI works with Department of Education in the development of Work and Credit opportunities for juniors and seniors in high school.
For information on where do these unaccompanied minors are sent, he suggested I try the Senate Committee that handles child labor; Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Bernie Sanders is the committee chairman and Patty Murray from WA is the next highest ranking member. I have calls into her.
The House committee on Education and the Workforce is chaired by Rep. Virginia Fox and Rep. Pramila Jayapal is Washington's representative on the committee.
I urge you to share this petition, so that more people become involved in their home states to see if we can find answers and solutions for the exploitation of children in the workforce.