TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Efforts to ease Florida’s child labour laws are moving forward in the state legislature.
The proposed bill allows teenagers to work long hours, even on school nights.
Some lawmakers are pushing the bill to do the work held by undocumented immigrants.
The bill has many changes to the 14-year-olds.
Gov. DeSantis promises to give Floridians tax relief: “We’re going to do that.”
With stricter state and country immigration laws, Florida is preparing for a shortage of migrant workers.
“When they bring in illegal immigrants, they can pay less than they need to pay to H2A workers, so they’re doing that. So they’re doing that,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
The bill, which recently passed the Commercial Tourism Commission, allows teenagers, ages 16 and 17, to work long hours before 6:30am or after 11am on weekdays.
If the bill passes, teenagers can work more than eight hours a day, and more than 30 hours a week.
Utah adds protection for child influencers following YouTuber Ruby Franke’s child abuse beliefs
The Florida Institute of Policy Research said it estimates the bill could affect more than 110,000 teenagers.
According to Gov. Desantis, all the bills are summed up in the desire to hire cheap labor, but he does not think this is the best policy to move the bill forward.
“What’s wrong with expecting our young people to work part-time? That’s how it was when I grew up. Why do we say we need to import foreigners?
The proposal also ends restrictions to prevent homeschooled children aged 14 and 15, or to prevent them from going to school online.
Not everyone is on the bill, but opponents said it could affect teenagers’ schooling and encourage child exploitation.
“If lawmakers want to prioritize the health, safety and education of Florida youth, they will refuse to revoke child labour protections further,” Sadaf Knight, CEO of the Non-partisan Florida Institute of Policy Research, said in a statement.
The bill must pass more committees before heading to the Senate floor. If you sign the law, it will take effect on July 1st.
