Florida lawmakers to consider weakening century-old child labor laws
Florida lawmakers to consider weakening century-old child labor laws Orlando Sentinel
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Proposed Republican Bill to Loosen Child Labor Laws in Florida
A proposed Republican bill to loosen child labor laws in Florida is part of a national trend aimed at repealing or weakening workplace protections for young people that have been in place for more than 100 years.
The bill could worsen graduation rates and hurt lower-income families, experts said, and could also be a way to replace some immigrant labor as Florida and other GOP-led states continue to crack down on undocumented workers.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
“Are we willing to return to a world where we accept that children of the poorest families are working more than full-time jobs under hazardous conditions?” said Jennifer Sherer, director of the Economic Analysis and Research Network at the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute.
State Rep. Linda Chaney, though, said in a statement that her bill “intends to provide teenagers with the flexibility to work whatever hours they deem fits best with their schedule and financial goals.”
“Families are struggling in the worst economy in decades and I want to do what I can to help by providing opportunity,” said Chaney, R-St. Petersburg. “Government should not be in the way of people wanting to learn skills and make a living.”
Proposed Changes in the Bill
- Remove all work guidelines for 16- and 17-year-olds
- Prevent local governments from passing ordinances stricter than state law
- Change the language about 14- and 15-year-olds, replacing “shall not” with “may not”
Terri Gerstein, a fellow at the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School who testified before Congress earlier this year about child labor, said she couldn’t see any other reason to change it.
“To me, as a normal human being, ‘shall not’ and ‘may not’ sound like the same thing, right?” Gerstein said. But, she added, “‘shall’ is obligatory and ‘may’ is optional. … I can only infer that there’s something nefarious [going on], because otherwise, why would you change the language? It makes no sense.”
Impact on Child Labor Laws
Child labor laws were one of the premier achievements of the Progressive Era of the early 1900s, when presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson helped usher in major changes to social and public policy at the state and national levels.
Florida passed laws at the time to protect children working in cigar factories and in agriculture. But now, it’s the 16th state in the past few years to have legislation filed to roll back those protections, Sherer said.
Increased Child Labor Violations
The changes came as the Federal Labor Department has reported a significant increase in child labor violations over the past five years, Gerstein said, including minors working the night shift or being employed at places such as poultry processing plants and construction sites.
A meat-processing plant in Minnesota paid $300,000 in penalties after an investigation showed it employed children as young as 13, while a Michigan meat plant owner pleaded guilty to employing a 17-year-old in a dangerous job. The boy’s hand was severed by a meat grinder.
Impact on Immigration Laws
The loosening of child labor laws has been tied to labor shortages partially caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but another reason could be the crackdown on undocumented workers, especially in the agriculture industry in Florida.
Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed what he called “the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country,” which greatly expanded the number of businesses required to screen employees’ immigration status using the federal E-Verify system.
Support for the Bill
Sherer said support for the bill was coming from several directions, including restaurant and lodging organizations as well as the Florida-based nonprofit group Foundation for Government Accountability, which has backed many similar bills across the country.
Conclusion
In the end, Gerstein said the proposed changes in Florida and around the country were a shortsighted solution to the labor situation.
“If employers are having a hard time attracting people, they should try to provide better working conditions before they turn to 15-year-olds. “… Once you weaken laws in response to some temporary situation, it’s not likely that they’re going to be switched back.”
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses the proposed bill to loosen child labor laws in Florida, which directly relates to SDG 4 (Quality Education) as it could worsen graduation rates and impact the ability of children to focus on their primary responsibility of going to school. It also connects to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) as it discusses the potential impact on lower-income families and the flexibility for teenagers to work. Additionally, the article touches on SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) as it raises concerns about the potential exploitation of children and the impact on the poorest families. Lastly, the article indirectly relates to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) as it mentions the potential correlation between the loosening of child labor laws and the crackdown on undocumented workers, which could impact certain industries.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are:
– Target 4.1, as the proposed bill could impact the completion of quality education for children.
– Target 8.7, as the bill’s potential impact on child labor laws raises concerns about the prohibition and elimination of child labor.
– Target 10.2, as the article highlights the potential impact on lower-income families and the need to ensure social and economic inclusion for all.
– Target 16.2, as the article raises concerns about the potential exploitation of children and the need to end abuse and exploitation.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
– Graduation rates: The impact of the proposed bill on graduation rates can be measured to assess progress towards Target 4.1.
– Child labor violations: Monitoring child labor violations and ensuring their reduction can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards Target 8.7.
– Economic inequality: Tracking the impact of the bill on lower-income families and assessing changes in economic inequality can be used as an indicator for progress towards Target 10.2.
– Exploitation of children: Monitoring cases of child exploitation and assessing their reduction can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards Target 16.2.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. | Graduation rates |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms. | Child labor violations |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Economic inequality |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Exploitation of children |
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Source: orlandosentinel.com
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