What is Forced Child Labor?
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What Is Forced Child Labor?
- Forced child labor refers to situations where children are compelled to work against their will, often through threats, coercion, deception, or abuse of power. In these cases, children are denied their right to safety, education, and healthy development.
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Children in forced labor may:
- Work long hours in dangerous or unhealthy environments
- Be paid little or nothing for their labor
- Be isolated from family and support systems
- Miss out on school, rest, and play—key elements of childhood
Forced child labor can occur in agriculture, construction, domestic work, and other informal or hidden sectors. It is a violation of both U.S. law and international human rights standards.
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Protecting Children from Exploitation
- Children have the right to be protected from exploitation in all its forms. Employers are prohibited from hiring minors for hazardous jobs or working conditions, and federal law strictly regulates the types of work children can perform and the number of hours they can work.
- Learn more from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division about child labor laws (keep the presentation in)