United States teen Migrant Worker Jalon Johnson, William Spriggs

U.S. Migrant Worker It is estimated that there are over 3 million U.S migrant and seasonal farm workers in the United States. These farm workers travel throughout the U.S. serving as the backbone for a multi-billion dollar agricultural industry. Within the population, 42% have been identified as migrating, while 58% are seasonal agricultural workers. The bulleted list below provides farm worker demographic information from the National Agricultural Workers.

Newspaper in 2011 The three defendants include the owner, safety director and former supervisor of Merced Farm Labor, which has since been shut down by the state. They're scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday in Stockton. SAN JOSE, Calif. A group of student activists at San Jose State University held an online petition on campus in the death of a 17- year-old pregnant farm worker who lost her fetus and died of heat stroke

Laws for child workers The United States Department of Labor has proposed an update to child labor regulations. These regulations are allegedly targeted at improving the safety of young folks working in the area of agriculture. Are these proposals a step forward for child labor regulations? Or do these proposals meddle too much with parent and child rights to choose as individuals?

Updates to the law Updates to the Law Strengthening current child labor prohibitions regarding agricultural work with animals in timber operations, manure pits, storage bins and pesticide handling. Prohibiting hired farm workers under the age of 16 from employment in the cultivation, harvesting and curing of tobacco. Prohibiting youth in both agricultural and nonagricultural employment from using electronic devices, including communication devices, while operating power-driven equipment. Prohibiting hired farm workers under the age of 16 from operating almost all power-driven equipment. A similar prohibition has existed as part of the nonagricultural child labor provisions for more than 50 years. A limited exemption would permit some student-learners to operate certain farm implements and tractors (when equipped with proper rollover protection structures and seat belts) under specified conditions. Preventing children under 18 years of age from being employed in the storing, marketing and transporting of farm-product raw materials. Prohibited places of employment would include country grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions

Type of work Training about health and safety, including information about pesticides and other chemicals that could be harmful to your health. Paying you at least the minimum wage for your work. Some exemptions may apply. Working only the limited hours and at the types of work permitted by state and federal laws. Federal child labor laws apply to agricultural work if you are under 16 years old. Paying you for medical care (workers' compensation) if you get injured or sick because of your job. Access to hand washing facilities, toilets, and potable drinking water must be provided by employers of 11 or more field workers.

2012 child labor chart

Average age of teens working

Earnings children as young as five were found to work from 6 in the morning until 7 at night for less than 20 cents a day. Mines 20 cents Work in oceans 10 cents Moving machinery 15 cents Carrying heavy materials 20 cents Extremely hot/cold temperatures 20 cents Agricultural work 10 cents Tannin work 15 cents Glass work 5 cents Working with pesticides or herbicides 12 cents Working with chemicals 20 cents Working with silica dust 15 cents

Why working Full-time work at a very early age Dangerous workplaces Excessive working hours Subjection to psychological, verbal, physical and sexual abuse Obliged to work by circumstances or individuals Limited or no pay Work and life on the streets in bad conditions Inability to escape from the poverty cycle - no access to education

Hours worked Children can legally work on any farm at age 12, with their parents’ permission, and it's not uncommon to see children as young as 7 and 8 in the fields. During peak harvest season, the children work up to 14-hour days, and earn far less than minimum wage. There is no minimum age for children working on a small farm with parental permission. Often their hours of labor are 12 to 16 hours a day

Family home life The report documents the many forms of abuse and exploitation suffered by migrant workers in Bahrain and details the government’s efforts to provide redress and strengthen worker protections. Bahraini authorities need to implement labor safeguards and redress mechanisms already in place and prosecute abusive employers, Human Rights Watch said. The government should extend the 2012 private sector labor law to domestic workers, who are excluded from key protections.

Educational opportunities Child labor provisions under FLSA are designed to protect the educational opportunities of youth and prohibit their employment in jobs that are detrimental to their health and safety Farmworker youth drop out of school at four times the national rate, according to government estimates—one third never graduate from high school. At the age of 14, children can also choose to enter a vocational training program to learn locally marketable skills, such as auto and motorcycle repair, tailoring and electrical wiring.

Dangers for teen workers Last summer, a 17-year old Alabama boy died at a poultry plant when he fell onto a conveyor belt that carries live chickens to be processed. Two months later, another teen died when he was pinned in a front-loader tractor on a construction site. Each day in America, 12 to 13 workers of all ages die and some of the victims are youth workers. In 2012, 34 workers under 18 died in the workplace—nearly half of those workers (16) were under 16 years old. In the 18 to 19 age group, another 56 workers died.