Child Labor Violations Up 50% in 2023 Amid Federal Crackdown

The US Department of Labor found nearly 6,000 minors working in illegal conditions in the US in fiscal year 2023, a nearly 50% increase from FY 2022.

The number of children discovered to be working during hours or in places barred for minors under the Fair Labor Standards Act jumped from 3,876 in FY 2022 to 5,792 in FY 2023, according to new data released by the DOL Thursday.

The increase is likely related in part to the enhanced enforcement initiative launched by the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division earlier this year that has focused on addressing the increasing ...