A Reaction to NYTimes Upfront “What They Did for Their Summer Vacation

October 8, 2015

Lauren Neveau

Tobacco nicotine. Field pesticides. No water.

This is how the tobacco farmers in the South treat their workers: in a field of hazardous conditions, strenuous hours, southern summer heat, with little water. And now children, still young and innocent, have lifelong complications. As a child, I feel compelled to respond.

Yes, I admit, I spend my summers working out, having fun in the sun and hanging out with friends. The truth is, some children need to work hard to earn money for their family during the summer - how could teenagers of struggling families not feel compelled to help? The conditions for these children are unfortunate and worrisome, even down right disgusting if you will. And slaves of child labor deserve every ounce of safety during their unpleasant summer vacation.

But there is a lack of protection against child labor simply because the law states that children can not work in hazardous conditions. While the tobacco fields call for long, sustained hours of picking, and cause teen workers to have about the same level of nicotine in their bodies as regular smokers, that’s bad. How is this not considered “hazardous”? Killer side effects include: many workers live with nausea and dizziness and break out in hives from the nicotine overload. I am sorrowful knowing kids my age work in such hazardous conditions, yet I am so healthy and able to live life feeling valued in this world.    

My point is, there are child labor laws in this country, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are keeping children safe. We’re allowing children to suffer from the weekly 50-60 hours of picking tobacco, making below minimum wage, creating poor quality of life, while puking in the fields. Doing the exact opposite of what summer vacation is for, rejuvenation. And just because it will take time and effort to revise the Fair Labor Standards Act, doesn’t mean it isn’t a necessity to keep teens safe.

So let’s end this hazardous child labor, shall we? Please, accept their will to work, however, make their environment safe. Think about children who spend their summer vacations in pain, in Southern tobacco fields. Really, the U.S. needs to make a change.