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Trustee Archive
Even though it is illegal for children to purchase cigarettes, they are still allowed to harvest tobacco on farms. With parental consent, child labor laws permit children as young as 7 years old to work on small family farms, however many kids over the age of 12 work on large corporate farms. North Carolina tobacco farmers say they need more labor during harvest season, and kids are under pressure to help support their families. Although tobacco picking is done by machine, much of the rest of the production is done by hand. Workers line up row by row and rapidly move down the lines of plants, removing the buds and flowers, pruning the unwanted shoots, and lifting the plants to remove weeds.
Advocates say that loose regulations and tobacco industry policies have left these kids vulnerable to the health risks of nicotine and pesticide exposure. Interviews of 33 children, ages 13 to 17, who worked on tobacco farms in North Carolina in 2015 revealed that nearly all of them described experiencing nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, skin irritation or respiratory symptoms either during or after work – classic symptoms of nicotine poisoning. Most of these children don't wear gloves because they tend to damage tobacco leaves. Advocates also claim that, in violation of federal laws, child tobacco workers have limited access to handwashing facilities and restrooms, and are not notified when their employers apply pesticides to fields.
Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of S.2044 - Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Sen. Richard Durbin (IL) |
- I oppose reforming current tobacco farm policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader Charles Schumer (NY).
- I support amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit employment of children in tobacco-related agriculture by deeming such employment as oppressive child labor. This bill redefines "oppressive child labor," to include the employment of any employee under age 18 who has direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Richard Durbin (IL) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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| Winning Option
»» No issues were voted |
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I support amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit employment of children in tobacco-related agriculture by deeming such employment as oppressive child labor. This bill redefines "oppressive child labor," to include the employment of any employee under age 18 who has direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Richard Durbin (IL) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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- Senator
If elected as a trustee, the campaign committee of Sen. Richard Durbin (IL) will be unconditionally awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting him to favorably consider either reintroducing S.2044 - Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act (117th Congress 2021-2022), or a similar version thereof.
- Human Rights Watch
If elected as a trustee, Human Rights Watch will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to advocate for eliminating the use of child labor on tobacco farms.
About: Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world. We are roughly 450 people of 70-plus nationalities who are country experts, lawyers, journalists, and others who work to protect the most at risk, from vulnerable minorities and civilians in wartime, to refugees and children in need. We direct our advocacy towards governments, armed groups and businesses, pushing them to change or enforce their laws, policies and practices. To ensure our independence, we refuse government funding and carefully review all donations to ensure that they are consistent with our policies, mission, and values.
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- No trustee votes received.
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| Poll Opening Date |
August 07, 2023 |
| Poll Closing Date |
August 13, 2023 |
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