To: President Donald Trump, The Arizona State Senate, and The United States Senate
Eliminate legal child labor in U.S. agriculture
If we are going to allow for critical unskilled labor as a part of immigration reform, let’s ensure their children have a fair shot at the American dream. In 1938, child labor protections were exempted for agriculture. As a result today an estimated 400,00 to 500,000 children legal work in agriculture. These kids are NOT the children of farmers; they are hired help whose health and education are compromised. They work in conditions most adults can’t physically tolerate. An estimated 65% of these children will not finish high school, a waste of potential. We are creating a permanent underclass of citizens. Each generation is supposed to do better but, if your children work instead of study, it’s rare. A child born to a farm worker is treated separate and unequal, denied protections from pesticides, arduous work and denied basic protections of non-agriculture children.
Let’s take this opportunity to end a double standard. Agriculture is a profitable business.
ADM boasts 62 billion in net sales in 2010.
Cargill #1 Private Company with 109.84 billion in revenues.
Agriculture doesn’t need to survive off the back of children.
Let’s take this opportunity to end a double standard. Agriculture is a profitable business.
ADM boasts 62 billion in net sales in 2010.
Cargill #1 Private Company with 109.84 billion in revenues.
Agriculture doesn’t need to survive off the back of children.
Why is this important?
If we are going to allow for critical unskilled labor as a part of immigration reform, let’s ensure their children have a fair shot at the American dream. In 1938, child labor protections were exempted for agriculture. As a result, today an estimated 400,00 to 500,000 children legal work in agriculture. These kids are NOT the children of farmers; they are hired help whose health and education are compromised. They work in conditions most adults can’t physically tolerate. An estimated 65% of these children will not finish high school, a waste of potential. We are creating a permanent underclass of citizens. Each generation is supposed to do better but, if your children work instead of study, it’s rare. A child born to a farm worker is treated separate and unequal, denied protections from pesticides, arduous work and denied basic protections of non-agriculture children.
Let’s take this opportunity to end a double standard. Agriculture is a profitable business.
ADM boasts 62 billion in net sales in 2010.
Cargill #1 Private Company with 109.84 billion in revenues.
Agriculture doesn’t need to survive off the back of children.
Let’s take this opportunity to end a double standard. Agriculture is a profitable business.
ADM boasts 62 billion in net sales in 2010.
Cargill #1 Private Company with 109.84 billion in revenues.
Agriculture doesn’t need to survive off the back of children.