Arkansas to Raise Child Labor Penalties After Meatpacking Case

Arkansas will impose tougher penalties for child labor violations under a new law enacted amid increasing reports that US employers are recruiting children to work in dangerous environments.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed the Arkansas bill on April 11, just weeks after drawing criticism from child safety advocates for signing another measure to end a state permitting requirement for underage workers.

The newly signed legislation (SB 390), caps penalties at $5,000 per violation instead of the current $1,000. It also creates a criminal penalty for employers that knowingly violate child labor law, potentially carrying a felony charge ...