How Florida’s proposed child labor bills could impact the job market – Employee Benefit News

Will the U.S. see rollbacks to child labor laws under the Trump administration?

The answer isn’t clear, but HR leaders may want to start paying attention.

Introduction

The Florida Legislature has filed two bills that would erode existing child labor laws. These bills would allow employers to schedule all 16 and 17-year-olds, as well as any 14 and 15-year-olds who have graduated from high school or are virtual students, for unlimited hours and days without breaks. Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis attempted to propose a similar exemption for homeschooled and virtual students when they turn 16.

The Importance of Child Labor Laws

“Child labor is the canary in the coal mine,” says Ann Olivarius, a veteran civil rights attorney and senior partner at McAllister Olivarius. “There is no world in which legislatures strip child workers of their rights, but other rights and protections are steadfastly maintained for adults.”

Olivarius emphasizes that child workers are uniquely vulnerable to exploitation due to their position of authority and lack of knowledge about their rights in the workplace. They are less likely to be able to advocate for themselves and identify violations of civil law, such as sexual harassment or racism.

Connection to Trump Administration’s Anti-Immigration Efforts

It is no coincidence that Florida is pushing these bills as the Trump administration’s anti-immigration efforts intensify. Governor DeSantis himself has made statements suggesting that undocumented workers provide “dirt cheap labor” and that teenagers and college students should be able to fill these positions. Immigrants currently account for 27.4% of Florida’s labor force, with a significant portion working in industries such as agriculture, construction, and transportation.

Consequences and Concerns

Olivarius warns that allowing child labor to replace skilled immigrant work is not a long-term solution. Children working in physically demanding and exploitative jobs will be deprived of education and face long-term economic hardships. This also creates a competitive disadvantage for adult workers, as employers may lower wages and protections for the workforce as a whole.

Furthermore, these laws are emerging during a time of economic uncertainty, as Trump tariffs threaten to push the U.S. into a recession. The children who will be working under these conditions are likely to come from underresourced backgrounds and desperate circumstances.

Call to Action

Olivarius urges employers to consider the consequences of hiring children as young as 14, beyond short-term profit. Protecting the health, welfare, and education of children should be a priority for society. Child employment legislation exists to ensure these protections, and employers have the power to choose not to hire child labor.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these three SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship (SDG 4)
• 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 (SDG 8)
• Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies (SDG 10)

The article highlights the erosion of child labor laws, which relates to Target 8.7 under SDG 8. It also mentions the potential impact on education and the long-term consequences of hiring children, which relates to Target 4.4 under SDG 4. Additionally, the article mentions the connection between immigration and labor force, which relates to Target 10.7 under SDG 10.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: benefitnews.com