As Immigrant Workforce Shrinks, Florida Eyes Child Labor
Florida legislators are advancing bills that would allow employers to schedule teenagers for unlimited work hours without breaks, dismantling protections that civil rights advocates say shield minors from exploitation.
The proposed legislation would permit 16 and 17-year-olds to work any hours while enabling 14 and 15-year-olds to take extended shifts. Under the bills, high school and virtual students could work without restrictions on hours or mandatory rest periods.
Governor Ron DeSantis frames the measures as providing flexibility for homeschooled students. Critics counter the changes would force children to choose between education and employment amid economic pressures from Trump’s tariffs.
“Child labor is the canary in the coal mine,” said Ann Olivarius, a civil rights attorney, warning that minors lack experience to protect themselves from workplace abuse or harassment.
State Senator Jonathan Martin defended the proposal during committee hearings, suggesting unhappy child workers “could quit” — a response labor advocates called dismissive of teenagers needing income to support families.
The bills, HB 1225 and its Senate companion, continue advancing through committee review as organizations warn that the changes particularly threaten immigrant youth in Florida’s agricultural sector, where 27% of workers are foreign-born, according to the American Immigration Council.
Labor groups characterize the legislation as sacrificing child welfare to address workforce demands, noting that current protections were designed to shield children’s health, workplace welfare, and education.
The proposed rollbacks come as several states consider loosening child labor laws amid economic uncertainty. Critics warn Florida’s changes could establish dangerous precedents for workers’ rights nationwide.
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