I doubt they give their kids a salary, so they’re not “employed”, plus they’re working on their family farm or in their family business, similarly to a kid doing chores at home like taking out trash or washing dishes. Now, I realize it’s completely different because of the *amount* of work, but theoretically it’s the same.
Amish get a “pass” on having their children educated past age 14 as well, thanks to religious freedom.
There are exceptions to child labor laws for all family owned businesses, not just farms. As long as other needs are being met including education and the hours aren’t insane then children can work in family businesses. Children can also work in minimum wage exempt agriculture with parent permission even if the parents are not the owners (basically small non corporate farms). There are some additional state laws that may limit hours or job type but at the federal level, kids can work almost unlimited hours in family business as long as the job is not dangerous and the kid gets mandatory education.
There are many reasons. At its core it’s just a matter of it being easier to let them live their traditional lifestyle at the cost of their children’s safety and future than it is to force integration. Amish are an extreme example but this sort of general phenomenon is pretty common with human societies. Sad but pragmatic.
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