The National Restaurant Association’s Role in Weakening Child Labor Laws
Overview
This report addresses the National Restaurant Association's (NRA) efforts to weaken child labor laws, contextualizing it within the staffing crisis in the restaurant industry. It highlights the historical context of the NRA's advocacy for subminimum wages and its shift towards advocating for relaxed child labor regulations to fill staffing shortages.
Findings
The NRA has led efforts to reduce child labor protections, advocating for increased work hours for minors and less government oversight.
Child labor violations have risen, with the restaurant industry being the primary offender.
Legislative efforts supported by the NRA aim to lower barriers for employing minors in more demanding and potentially hazardous jobs.
Implications for Policy and Practice
The report calls for resistance against these exploitative practices, emphasizing the need for fair wages and robust labor protections to ensure a just and equitable workforce.
Related Evidence
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Published January 1, 2023View Evidence
This report explores the systemic issue of subminimum wages for tipped workers in Maryland, a direct legacy of slavery, affecting over 105,000 tipped workers, predominantly women and people of color. It highlights the refusal of workers to work for subminimum wages amid the pandemic, leading to a staffing crisis in Maryland's restaurant industry.
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Published April 1, 2023View Evidence
This report contrasts the effects of One Fair Wage policies in California against New York's subminimum wage system on small business restaurants, with a focus on sales, job growth, and the success of minority and women-owned business enterprises.
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This guide discusses the implications of Initiative 82 in Washington D.C., aiming to reform the restaurant industry by transitioning from a tipping model to a service charge model. It highlights the historic move away from subminimum wages for tipped workers, aiming to create a fairer wage system.
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Published February 1, 2023View Evidence
This report examines the severe staffing crisis in Illinois' restaurant industry, focusing on the refusal of workers to accept subminimum wages.
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Published June 1, 2023View Evidence
This report highlights the dual crises of youth unemployment and staffing shortages in Chicago's restaurant industry. It discusses the potential of One Fair Wage, a policy to ensure full minimum wage with tips on top for tipped workers, to address both issues simultaneously.