Legislation affecting child labor laws is being advanced in Florida and West Virginia, drawing significant criticism from various quarters. In Florida, a Senate committee has moved forward with a bill that would permit employers to schedule minors to work until midnight on school nights. Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO argues that the bill's intent is to create a pool of low-wage workers. Concerns have also been raised about the potential exploitation of children, with farmworker women voicing worries over the bill allowing minors to work more than eight hours a day and over 30 hours a week during school. Meanwhile, in West Virginia, a House Committee has passed a bill to eliminate the requirement for work permits for children under 16, which would make it easier for younger teens to enter the workforce. A GOP representative supported the bill, suggesting it would teach children work ethic.
So putting kids to work isn't enough. Putting kids to work in dangerous jobs isn't enough. They also need to not have breaks in case they leave. All from the "protect the children" party. https://t.co/sLeY6Bp5lW
Today a Florida Republican was asked if her child labor bill would require bosses to give teens breaks at work. She says that if teenagers are working "and they're not happy with something, they'll ghost us at lunchtime." https://t.co/GsHFJe0TFN
A West Virginia House Committee has advanced a bill to remove the state requirement that kids under 16 obtain work permits. This would make it easier for kids as young as 14 to be put to work. One GOP rep said, “Our kids need to learn some work ethic.” https://t.co/gQhLexZS9g
Farmworker women are worried a bill in the Florida Legislature to roll back child labor protections to allow minors to work more than eight hours per day and more than 30 hours a week during school will result in the exploitation of their children. https://t.co/XLiJNFwcWF
This is not just happening in Florida but across the country. Lawmakers are dismantling child labor protections on behalf of corporate interests who are desperate to address worker shortages but unwilling to just pay people better wages. https://t.co/869Lcmyl1h
A Florida Senate committee has advanced a bill allowing employers to schedule kids to work until 12 a.m. on school nights. As Rich Templin of the @FLAFLCIO said, the bill's "true motivation" is to provide more low-wage workers. https://t.co/PxhyYXI4HR
'We are children': Push to weaken Florida's child labor laws draws ire from opponents (via @TooMuchMe) https://t.co/5tQEcSDH7e