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Increased penalties for violating Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Act have been passed by the state’s House of Representatives. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
PA House passes bill increasing penalties for child labor violations
Ed Gruver//June 29, 2023
Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday increasing the penalties for employers in violation of the state’s Child Labor Act.
Sponsored by state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila., the bill passed by a 180-23 vote. It now advances to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.
“We cannot have companies thinking that violating Child Labor Act laws is just the cost of doing business here in the commonwealth,” Young said in a statement. “There are efforts in state legislatures across the country to weaken child labor laws, and this comes at a time when the U.S. Department of Labor reported a 283% increase in child labor law violations between 2015 and 2022.”
Under the bill, penalties for first-time violations of the Child Labor Act will increase from $500 to $1,000. For repeat violations, the fine will increase from $1,500 to $3,000.
“Here in Pennsylvania, we must make it clear: there will be penalties for exploiting the state’s children,” said Young.
