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Florida teenagers would have work limits lifted beneath new laws

Florida teenagers would have work limits lifted beneath new laws

USA, Featured5 days ago2 Views

‘We’re not speaking ‘The Jungle’ by Upton Sinclair. We’re speaking about them working at Publix and Piggly Wiggly,’ one GOP lawmaker defined.

John Kennedy
| Capital Bureau | USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA

Solely a 12 months after Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature loosened Florida’s baby labor restrictions amid a decent job market, lawmakers now are advancing a measure that might take away all work limits on 16- and 17-year-olds.

Whereas these youngsters may work limitless hours and days with out breaks in the course of the college 12 months, the laws (SB 918) would even enable 14- and 15-year-olds to work with out restrictions in the event that they both graduated highschool or are home- or virtual-school college students.

It additionally removes prohibitions on youngsters engaged on college days sooner than 6:30 a.m. or later than 11 p.m. “It is a parental rights concern,” Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, advised the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Tuesday.

Collins dismissed critics who likened his invoice as a return to an earlier epoch of kid labor exploitation: “Frankly, we’re not speaking “The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair. We’re speaking about them working at Publix and Piggly Wiggly.”

Nonetheless, others warned that exploitation of younger staff is for certain to observe if lawmakers ditch even the relaxed requirements accredited final 12 months, which allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to work greater than 30 hours throughout college weeks, with parental permission.

Critics had warned of slippery slope

“We warned this was only the start, that this was a slippery slope, and right here we’re once more,” stated Jackson Oberlink, with Florida For All, a justice advocacy group. “We’re dealing with one other try to strip away fundamental safeguards for Florida’s kids, all to appease company pursuits in search of low-cost labor.”

Collins portrayed increasing work alternatives for teenagers as an opportunity for them to not solely assist their households but in addition construct character that may serve them in future teachers, work and life expertise.

DeSantis, although, could have fueled criticism of the laws final week throughout a roundtable in Sarasota with President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan.

DeSantis acknowledged that efforts the state and White Home are engaged in to take away undocumented immigrants could have lowered the workforce for lower-wage jobs. However the governor pointed to younger staff as potential replacements.

“Why do we are saying we have to import foreigners, even import them illegally, when you realize, youngsters used to work at these resorts. School college students ought to be capable of do that stuff,” he stated.

DeSantis sees youth as substitute staff

DeSantis stated the state requiring bigger employers to confirm staff’ immigration standing has lowered accessible labor.

“Sure, we had those that left due to these guidelines, however you’ve additionally been in a position to rent different folks. And what’s mistaken with anticipating our younger folks to be working part-time now? I imply, that’s the way it was after I was rising up,” DeSantis stated.

Collins’ invoice, nevertheless, could face powerful odds.

An analogous Home invoice (HB 1225) hasn’t moved. And whereas Collins’ proposal cleared the Senate committee on a 5-4 vote, a minimum of two of his fellow Republican supporters stated they remained uneasy concerning the method. Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, a former state GOP chair, voted in opposition to the laws.

“I believe this sends a foul message,” Gruters stated. “I believe we must always enable youngsters to work the hours they’re allowed now with the (dad or mum) waiver system, and that’s it.”

Collins’ invoice is like what Florida lawmakers started working with final 12 months, till the compromise measure involving restricted hours and parental permission emerged and was ultimately accredited.

Who’s behind it? Conservative donors

It displays a nationwide push by the Basis for Authorities Accountability, a Naples-based conservative analysis and lobbying group financed by a constellation of right-wing teams.

The Ed Uihlein Household Basis, led by the billionaire founding father of a Wisconsin-based transport firm, is an enormous donor to FGA and helps the kid labor invoice together with anti-union and deregulation efforts throughout the nation.

Dick Uihlein, who leads the inspiration named for his father, was an enormous donor to DeSantis, notably throughout his failed presidential marketing campaign.

The Florida Coverage Institute, which opposes the laws, stated there are greater than 80,000 16- and 17-year-olds already employed in Florida, with most juggling work and college.

FPI stated that lifting the present limits will pressure teen-agers to simply accept hours their bosses schedule them, even when it places their teachers in danger. Citing the latest U.S. Labor Division statistics, FPI reported that in 2023, there have been 209 baby labor violations in Florida, the second highest stage in 15 years.

John Kennedy is a reporter within the USA TODAY Community’s Florida Capital Bureau. He could be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on X at @JKennedyReport.