Traveling Youth Crews (Door To Door Sales)

Interstate Labor Standards Association

Many youth are exploited and abused in an area known as Door to Door Sales, or Traveling Youth Crews. In these situations, employers work youth by having them sell candy, household goods, etc., either door to door or at locations such as shopping malls. These employers, in most cases, claim to be not for profit organizations. Yet they earn considerable amounts off of the items youth are selling. Youth are encouraged to work in these areas with promises of prizes and trips. This does not include those charitable, school or church organizations such as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.
 

Dangers for youth involved in these operations are many. Youth are worked way beyond allowed hours at night. They work in areas far from their own homes, sometimes across state lines. They are left on street corners if they have not met their sales quotas. Youth have been pulled inside of peoples' homes against their wills. Twenty or thirty youth, both boys and girls, are piled together in motel rooms for overnight trips. Lack of supervision leaves these children vulnerable to any kind of night activity.

The Interstate Labor Standards Association cautions the public to be aware of these kinds of activities. Even if you are in a church or school group, we advise you to follow these guidelines:

For children involved in any type of door to door sales, or youth peddling operations, the Interstate Labor Standards Association provides recommendations to ensure our children's safety. Certain types of operations, such as Girl Scouts or school activities are legal, but guidelines should still be followed.
 

Always check with your state Division of Labor Standards. See if the employer has permission to operate for state child labor contact. For Kansas call 785-296-4062. For other states check the Interstate Labor Standards Association web site

• Always make sure parents or guardians have the employer's name, address, phone number, schedule and place of work.
• Always ensure that children work with a buddy.
• Always have adult supervision in the immediate area.
• Never allow children to travel farther than 10 miles from home.
• Always have an emergency plan in place (what to do if the child dropped off on the street corner; is being taken across state lines; is asked to do something illegal, etc.)
• Children should be instructed to never enter anyone's home.
• Check with the local policy or city/county clerk to see if the employer has a license or permit to operate.
• Be sure the children know their rights under the law

If door-to-door sales or youth peddling is occurring in your neighborhood, please ask the child involved for the following information. Report it to your state officials immediately. Time factors are critical for us to help effectively.

•   The employer's and organization's name.
• The item(s) they sell.
• Locations where the children are being picked up and dropped off. Are they staying overnight anywhere? If so, where?
• Places (addresses if possible), dates and times they are working.
• Names, ages and contact information of children working.
• How long and how late do they work?
• Keep copies of any literature provided, including flyers used for recruitment (usually found around schools, telephone poles or grocery store bulletin boards).

We hope this provides some guidelines to assist the youth you know are working safely and legally. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your state's child labor contact listed on the ISLA website.

Adapted from the Young Worker Safety & Health Network, an organization of individuals who have, as a common goal, the safety of youth in the workplace. The Network was founded at the 1997 American Public Health Association Conference in New York City.