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The Labor Department says there’s been a sharp, 44% rise in illegal child workers since October.

The department announced Thursday that more than 4,470 children have been found working in violation of child labor laws this fiscal year.

There’s still 700 cases outstanding, including investigations into the tragic accidental deaths of three 16-year-olds this summer in Mississippi, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

And just a few days ago, the department says they found 83 minors working in violation of the law at 16 different McDonald’s locations.

But Republicans say the Biden administration’s lax placement policies for unaccompanied children are behind the increase in exploitation.

Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) says whistleblowers have come forward to say many of those children are forced to illegally work long hours in factories.

The issue also has bipartisan attention. House Democrats launched a task force last week to investigate the extent of the problem.