Child Labor Prevention Act

The Child Labor Prevention Act (S. 637) proposes to strengthen federal child labor laws by expanding who can be held responsible for violations and significantly increasing financial penalties. Under this bill, companies would be prohibited from using child labor through independent contractor arrangements, closing a loophole that previously applied primarily to direct employees.

For citizens and businesses, the most immediate impact would be a substantial increase in fines for illegal child labor practices. The bill raises the maximum civil penalty from $11,000 to over $132,000 per violation, with even higher fines of up to $601,150 in cases involving a child’s death or serious injury. Additionally, the legislation introduces mandatory minimum fines and allows for criminal penalties, including up to one year of imprisonment, for repeat or willful offenders.