A movement to weaken American child labor protections at the state level began in 2022. By June 2023, Arkansas, Iowa, New Jersey and New Hampshire had enacted this kind of legislation, and lawmakers in at least another eight states had introduced similar measures.
Remember, the claim that this is about “filling a labour shortage” is a bald faced lie.
There is no shortage of labour. There’s only a shortage of easily exploitable labour as adults are finally demanding better pay and conditions, and even doing crazy stuff like - gasp! - joining unions!!!
They want to hire children so they can pay them like shit and treat them like shit. That’s the only reason for this.
So if these kids can work, they can vote, right?
We shouldn’t be shocked when the education levels of these states (literacy, math, writing, etc) starts to decrease in the near future. It’s not like these politicians, companies, people care sadly, but with the less time teenagers are going to have for studies, extracurricular, and usual teenage things, we can definitely expect to see even further decrease in grades and proficiency levels.
Grades are one thing, but the mental toll and stress a lot teenagers face due to not being have to have an effective school/work/life balance is insane. I have seen a further decrease on these students mental health since the pandemic started (especially now with inflation impact lower SES families) since alot of them have to work to provide for the family as well.
deleted by creator
They want more people in the work force. I’ve been working since I was 16. They just want to squeeze as much labor out of us as they can. Lower the age to 12 and that’s 4 more years. Raise the retirement age couple of years, and put people in a position where they can’t really retire (hence getting rid of student loan debt forgiveness). Hell, a lot of people already can’t retire. We’re born, basically have about 4 years off, then it’s school, maybe college. Most people are already in the work force in some capacity by high school. And that’s basically it. Work til we die. That’s our life lol. Oh, except for the ultra rich. They don’t have to do shit.
