ASSP Takes Position Opposing Exploitative Child Labor

As the world’s oldest professional safety organization, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has adopted a formal position on child labor. The statement from the board of directors declares that ASSP opposes all forms of exploitative child labor and calls on governmental and nongovernmental entities to combat such practices in the U.S. and worldwide.

The International Labor Organization estimates that 22,000 children are killed at work every year. However, because much of child labor is hidden, it is difficult to obtain accurate data on how children are being affected.

As part of ASSP’s position statement, the Society supports legislation and regulation that prohibit exploitative child labor practices; specific language in global standards that facilitates prevention; and actions by occupational safety and health professionals to implement policies and programs that better protect children in the workforce.

While ASSP opposes exploitative child labor practices, the Society supports reasonable approaches to young people working and realizing the associated benefits and responsibilities of having a job.

ASSP’s position statement specifically notes exploitative child labor practices such as:

• Full time hours or an accumulation of hours that interferes with a child’s ability to attend school;
• Exposure to hard physical labor, hazardous conditions or toxic environments;
• Agriculture tasks involving dangerous equipment known to cause injuries and fatalities to young workers;
• Work activities that don’t allow a child to grow to become a healthy and productive adult; and
• Any endeavor that demeans or exploits children harmfully or inappropriately.

With its child labor position set, ASSP will now pursue next steps that include:

• Publishing articles and hosting webinars to educate the occupational safety and health community;
• Advocating for prohibition of exploitative child labor in global standards such as the ANSI/ASSP/ISO 45001 and ANSI/ASSP Z10 occupational health and safety management systems standards;
• Using ASSP’s consultative status with the United Nations to support efforts to raise awareness;
• Encouraging ASSP members to help address the issue through supply chain requirements and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices; and
• Working with other occupational safety and health organizations to help prohibit exploitative child labor.

For more information, visit https://www.assp.org.