Missouri bill would loosen child labor law by removing work permit requirements • Missouri Independent

A Push to Eliminate Work Permits for Children in Missouri

A push to eliminate Missouri’s requirement for children under 16 to obtain official work permits before they can begin a job could be debated by the House this week.

Current Work Permit Requirements in Missouri

1. Children aged 14 and 15 must obtain a certificate issued by their school, with information from their prospective employer about the details of the job as well as parental consent and age verification.
2. The child’s school or parent must review the information to ensure compliance with state laws regarding the type of work and hours allowed for children.
3. Once the school issues the certificate, a copy is filed with the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Children under 14 are generally not permitted to work, while those 16 and older aren’t subject to the same restrictions.

The Proposed Bill

The bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Dave Hinman of O’Fallon and a similar one sponsored by state Sen. Nick Schroer of Defiance, would eliminate the formal work permit process. Instead, the only requirement would be that a parent sign a permission slip for the child’s employer.

Proponents argue that schools’ role in the process is unnecessary and outdated, and that parents should have the largest role in deciding whether their child can work.

Similar Laws and Opposition

• Last year, Arkansas passed a similar law eliminating youth employment permits, but without the parental permission slip requirement. This move faced opposition from child advocacy groups concerned about the removal of oversight protecting child workers.
• Proponents of the bill in Missouri insist that businesses will still be required to comply with state and federal law, ensuring child labor violations are prevented.

Support and Opposition

The legislation in Missouri has largely gone unnoticed, with no opposition during hearings on the bill in the past two years. However, some individuals have submitted written opposition.

Support for the bill comes from business groups including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Retailers, and Missouri Grocers Association.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This proposed legislation aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 4: Quality Education – by involving schools in the certification process to ensure children are not working to the detriment of their education.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – by empowering employers and youth to make decisions about employment, while still complying with state and federal labor laws.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – by prioritizing parental involvement and allowing parents to make decisions regarding their child’s work activities.

Schools’ Role

Schools play a supervisory role in the current work permit process, ensuring that employers comply with state laws and that children are not engaged in hazardous work. However, some legislators and supporters of the bill argue that schools should not have such power over families and students.

Enforcement and Oversight

Opponents of the bill have raised concerns about enforcement and accountability if work permits are eliminated. Currently, schools act as an additional set of eyes to identify hazardous job descriptions, ensuring the safety of child workers. However, proponents argue that parents and business owners should be responsible for accountability.

Next Steps

The bill has been voted out of committee and is expected to be debated by the full House before the end of the session. While the sponsor is not optimistic about its passage this year, he hopes that discussion will help improve the bill for future consideration.

Conclusion

The proposed bill in Missouri aims to eliminate the requirement for work permits for children under 16. Proponents argue that this change empowers employers and youth, while prioritizing parental involvement. However, opponents raise concerns about the potential increase in child labor violations and the loss of oversight. The bill’s impact on the SDGs, particularly SDG 4, SDG 8, and SDG 10, should be considered in the ongoing discussions.

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

The article discusses the requirement for children under 16 to obtain work permits in Missouri, which is connected to the goals of ensuring quality education (SDG 4) by considering the impact of work on children’s education, promoting decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) by addressing regulations related to youth employment, and reducing inequalities (SDG 10) by examining the role of schools and parents in the work permit process.

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.
• 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.

Based on the article’s content, the targets mentioned above are relevant. Target 4.4 focuses on ensuring that youth have the necessary skills for employment, which is related to the discussion on work permits for children. Target 8.7 addresses the elimination of child labor, which is indirectly connected to the article’s discussion on the work permit process. Target 10.2 emphasizes the inclusion of all individuals, regardless of age, which relates to the role of schools and parents in the work permit process.

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

• Number of youth with relevant skills for employment
• Number of child labor violations
• Level of parental involvement in work activities

Although the article does not explicitly mention indicators, the following indicators can be implied from the content. The number of youth with relevant skills for employment can measure progress towards Target 4.4. The number of child labor violations can indicate progress towards Target 8.7. The level of parental involvement in work activities can be an indicator of progress towards Target 10.2.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: missouriindependent.com

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