Department of Labor to examine children in the fields

This week at Media Voices I want to take note of an important event occurring at the United States Department of Labor. Hilda Solis,  the Secretary of Labor has convened a Panel Discussion on the Plight of Migrant Farm Worker Children and a Special Screening of the Trailer for the upcoming documentary film, The Harvest/La Cosecha on September 16th.

The panel discussion will be moderated by the Secretary and panelists include: Dolores Huerta from Farmworkers;Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard; David Strauss from Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs; Sylvia Aldana- a Former Child Migrant Worker; Mark Lara- a Department of Labor Wage and Hour Investigator and U Roberto (Robin) Romano Producer and Director of The Harvest/La Cosecha.UnitedFarmworkers;Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard; David Strauss from Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs; Sylvia Aldana- a Former Child Migrant Worker; Mark Lara- a Department of Labor Wage and Hour Investigator and U Roberto (Robin) Romano Producer and Director of The Harvest/La Cosecha.

Children working in agriculture in the United States continue to struggle under a patchwork of state regulations and a nearly complete lack of federal protections. They work long hours in the hot sun, picking our fruits and vegetables, exposed to pesticides and dangerous work conditions and struggling to stay in school. More than half of all migrant children fail to complete high school. The result is a permanent underclass of children living at or below the poverty line.

MVC Resources:

Children in the Fields Report

Children in Fields video