Florida’s new child labor has reportedly stirred up a major debate. The law reportedly allows 16 and 17-year-olds to work more than 8 hours a day and over 30 hours a week without mandated breaks. Furthermore, the law will also remove work restrictions from fourteen and 15-year-olds who qualify.
This update is reportedly aimed at assisting with labor shortages amid the recent crackdown on immigration in the U.S. But is this a positive fix for the state? Or a negative solution that will do more harm than good?
Well, The Shade Room’s correspondent A.B. Burns-Tucker is breaking things down on ‘TSR Newz.’
More On Florida’s Controversial Child Labor Law
According to Burns-Tucker, Florida’s child labor law, or House Bill 1225, recently made its way through the Senate by a slim margin. Per the news correspondent, the bill appears to aim at assisting the state with its labor shortage due to the Trump administration’s massive deportation efforts. Instead of relying on immigrants, the bill appears to turn a focus toward Florida’s youth and ability to fill the low-wage positions left behind by deported migrants.
“[Minors aged 16 and 17] can now work before 6:30 a.m. and after 11 p.m. on school nights. Additionally, teens can now work more than eight hours in a day or thirty hours a week even when school is in session. Unless, of course, a parent or school superintendent says otherwise,” Burns-Tucker explains. “The law even loosens restrictions on younger teens 14 and 15, allowing them to work under certain conditions if they’ve graduated high school or are enrolled in a virtual program.”
Is The Update A Smart Fix Or Teen Exploitation?
Per Burns-Tucker, the guidelines of Florida’s recently passed child labor law actually align the state with the federal government’s child labor law requirements.
Scroll above to watch as the host breaks down how these updated guidelines in Florida can be a help to the state’s labor market. Additionally, Burns-Tucker dives into how these updates can be a quick fix for the state’s economy but still prove to have detrimental effects on the state’s education of its youth down the line.
