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.