# Child Labor Child labor refers to the employment of minors in conditions that are harmful, exploitative, or that interfere with education. While federal law has restricted child labor since the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, recent years have seen a wave of state-level rollbacks — particularly in Republican-controlled legislatures — that weaken age requirements, expand permitted hours, and reduce workplace protections for minors. These rollbacks have coincided with documented surges in child labor violations, particularly in meatpacking, food processing, and agriculture — sectors that already benefit from longstanding exemptions in federal law. The push to loosen child labor protections fits within the broader [[Deregulation]] agenda advanced by groups like the [[Heritage Foundation]] and represents a concrete example of how [[Republican Party]] economic ideology translates into material harm for vulnerable populations.