DOL’s Wage Arm Vows Child Labor Focus Despite No Rule Changes

Democrats and safety organizations want the US Labor Department to go further in its child labor enforcement efforts by revisiting certain limits on the types of jobs minors can work, but the Biden administration says it doesn’t have the rulemaking bandwidth to take on such an update.

Advocates have met with the US DOL’s wage regulator four times in recent months, urging them to revisit its Hazardous Occupation orders, which limit the types of job duties minors can conduct like prohibiting use of meat slicers or certain equipment. Democratic lawmakers have also pressed the agency to address its rules protecting ...