Why is the Republican Party suddenly weakening child labor restrictions? And the burgeoning women’s movement became increasingly active on the issue, pushing particularly for compulsory education laws that would effectively ban child labor by mandating school attendance. As it turned out, the push to end child labor by mandating education was highly effective. Twenty years later, the Fair Labor Standards Act established federal child labor provisions that are still in place (and which states like Arkansas may soon sue to overturn). Industry groups like the National Association of Manufactures objected—not just because it would mean the loss of a compliant workforce, but also because they rejected the vision of equality that outlawing child labor was meant to advance.

Source: The Nation March 17, 2023 22:23 UTC