Federal Budget Cuts Global Fight Against ‘Child Labour’

The Department of Labor division is administered to fight against child and forced labour and this department met with the controversial move of the Trump government, who cut down the budget which is estimated to be millions of dollars for DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) headed by Elon Musk. Many activists were disappointed by this decision which comes as a part of broader cost-cutting measures of DOGE who scaled back many such funding from various other sectors. 

Previously, this labour division was monitored and administered by the Department of Labour Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). Opposing voices against this decision claim that this initiative will definitely affect the progress which has been made all these years. It majorly helped to protect the vulnerable children, catered significant research & tools for American Businesses to ensure their supply chains remain free of forced and child labor. What could be the backfire of cutting down this budget of child labor? 

• It undermines the U.S. commitments to ethical labor practices & human rights.
• The global labor standards which benefit both workers and consumers are diminished.

The international organizations and the countries who have been working hard to eradicate child labor with progressive human rights policies could be prohibited with such reactionary actions carried by a government with a strong impact.