Pa. Dept of Labor probing 'Jon & Kate' complaint (Child Labor)

[charlie and algernon]

Pa. Dept of Labor probing 'Jon & Kate' complaint
May 29, 2009, 12:27 PM EST
WERNERSVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- Jon, Kate and their eight children have attracted a huge TV audience, screaming tabloid headlines and, now, a state labor investigation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor says it's looking into whether the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is complying with child labor laws.

The TLC series follows Jon and Kate Gosselin as they raise their eight young children, including 8-year-old twins and sextuplets who just turned 5. The show drew nearly 10 million viewers for its fifth-season premiere Monday following reports of trouble in the Gosselins' marriage.

Labor Department spokesman Justin Fleming tells The Associated Press that the department is looking into a complaint against the show.

TLC says it "fully complies" with state laws and regulations


http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=411695>1=28103

[Midlodemocrat]

1. They should slap them back with a SLAP suit. That charge is utter bullshit.

[oregonjen]

2. So you don't think the children are being exploited?

Living in a fishbowl with absolutely no privacy is okay? Their childhood is out there for entertainment? Are the children getting the money in accounts for them when they reach 18?

Here is a letter sent to the McCaughey family when they had their children from some of the Dionne quints.

Dear Bobbi and Kenny,

If we emerge momentarily from the privacy we have sought all our adult lives, it is only to send a message to the McCaughey family. We three would like you to know we feel a natural affinity and tenderness for your children. We hope your children receive more respect than we did. Their fate should be no different from that of other children. Multiple births should not be confused with entertainment, nor should they be an opportunity to sell products.

Our lives have been ruined by the exploitation we suffered at the hands of the government of Ontario, our place of birth. We were displayed as a curiosity three times a day for millions of tourists. To this day we receive letters from all over the world. To all those who have expressed their support in light of the abuse we have endured, we say thank you. And to those who would seek to exploit the growing fame of these children, we say beware.

We sincerely hope a lesson will be learned from examining how our lives were forever altered by our childhood experience. If this letter changes the course of events for these newborns, then perhaps our lives will have served a higher purpose.

Sincerely, Annette, Cecile and Yvonne Dionne

As published in Time Magazine, 12/01/1997

[Midlodemocrat]

3. I read that letter. Totally different circumstances.

And, not really. I think Kate realized she had a small window of opportunity to make some money to provide for her children. Jon is a shitty provider, no question about that. And, she took it.

She knows that people aren't going to continue to watch the show forever, anymore than people followed the Kienast quints or the McCaughey 7 forever.

Not saying I'd do it, but the kids seem pretty happy to me.

[oregonjen]

5. I wouldn't say they're totally different circumstances

The public is watching, it's voyeuristic. Cameras that follow the kids around all the time have got to make a huge negative impact. The trips, the different places they've visited have all been scripted. They were arranged by TLC. Don't you think they will look back when they're older and realize their childhood was a lie, done only for the cameras? Kind of like the movie "The Truman Show."

The whole situation is sick.

[LeftyMom]

4. Apparently only because PA has no child labor laws specific to the entertainment industry.

In CA what they do would be illegal- there are very strict rules about how long children working in entertainment can be filmed per day. (That's why the role of one young child is so often split between identical twins- twice the allowable filming time.)

I get the feeling the idea is to have the state rule that there's nothing illegal going on, then press for a law restricting hours children can be on camera. I'd be all for it- those kids shouldn't live on a TV set and should have some privacy every now and then, even if their parents are willing to be utter asshats and whore them out for cash, (filmed, working) "vacations" and valuable prizes.

[rucky]

6. Bring It!