News & Commentary May 9, 2023

[Omaha Steve]

https://onlabor.org/may-9-2023/

By Lewit Gemeda

Lewit Gemeda is a student at Harvard Law School.

In today’s News and Commentary, Congress’ efforts to address exploitation of migrant children have stalled, Bernie Sanders shares his plan for a $17 federal minimum wage, and California is working to address worker exploitation in the cannabis industry.

Initial reports that migrant children were being exploited for cheap labor across the U.S drew bipartisan outrage and calls for legislative action. However, that momentum seems to have stalled over the last few weeks as the issue has become entangled in the fight over immigration policy. Democrats’ attempts to increase the funding for federal agencies so they can provide support for migrant children who are crossing the border alone has been met with resistance in the House; And, even seemingly uncontroversial, legislation that is seeking to enhance the penalties companies face for using child labor has gained little traction. Simultaneously, Republican efforts to enhance the vetting of households sponsoring migrant children and hasten the removal of unaccompanied minors has limited chance of success in the Senate. Instead, both parties appear to be as a standstill as child labor has become entangled with politics and policy over the border.

FULL story at link above.