From the National Farm Worker Ministry (https://nfwm.org/):
Harvest of Justice (HOJ) is our annual educational program that provides supporters with multiple resources, so they can help their faith group and community learn about issues affecting farm workers. HOJ is an opportunity to raise consciousness, commitment, and contributions. The Harvest of Justice Season falls every year between Labor Day on Sept. 5 and World Food Day on Oct. 16. This year’s theme is Child Labor in Agriculture and all our resources are now available.
Justice for Migrant Women reports that there are between 300,000 and 500,000 child farm workers in the U.S., but the specific number is unknown. What we do know is that these children face many work hazards and lack many basic child labor protections. Every day, around 33 children are injured doing farm work. And a child working in agriculture dies about every three days.
Harsh working conditions, economic hardships, living in isolation, and discrimination are just a few of the stressors farm workers and their children experience. Additionally, farm worker children often struggle in school due to work and life stressors.
But you can stand in solidarity with farm workers and help end child labor. By following along with Harvest of Justice 2022: Child Labor in Agriculture, you will learn how you can make a positive difference in the working and living conditions of farm workers and their families.
One of the solutions to help reduce child labor in agriculture is to ask Congress to support the Children’s Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety, H.R. 7345, CARE Act, which would end the exemption for exploitative child labor in U.S. agriculture. Another way is to support farm worker led campaigns that improve their living and working conditions, so that farm workers don’t have to ask their children to work in the fields in order to meet financial needs.
NFWM plans to host a webinar on Tuesday, September 27th about child labor in agriculture and all the ways supporters can take action to help farm workers and their families.
Harvest of Justice resources: https://nfwm.org/resource-center/harvest-of-justice/harvest-of-justice-2022-child-labor-in-agriculture/
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