In Massachusetts, a 12-year-old girl delivering newspapers is killed when a car strikes her bicycle. In Los Angeles, a 14-year-old boy repeatedly falls asleep in class, exhausted from his evening job. Although children and adolescents may benefit from working, there are also negative social effects and sometimes danger in their jobs.
Protecting Youth at Work looks at what is known about work done by children and adolescents and the effects of that work on their physical and emotional health and social functioning. The committee recommends specific initiatives for legislators, regulators, researchers, and employers.
This book provides historical perspective on working children and adolescents in America and explores the framework of child labor laws that govern that work. The committee presents a wide range of data and analysis on:
-- The scope of youth employment -- where and how much they work.
-- Factors that put children and adolescents at risk in the workplace.
-- The effects of that employment, including data on educational attainment and life-style choices.
The committee discusses special issues for minority and disadvantaged youth, young workers in agriculture, and children who work in family-owned businesses.