Florida Pushes to Loosen Child Labor Laws Amid Labor Shortages

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida‘s Republican-controlled legislature is poised to debate a bill aimed at loosening child labor laws, potentially allowing children as young as 14 to work during overnight shifts. The initiative comes as businesses across the state struggle to find workers for low-wage jobs while facing restrictions on hiring undocumented immigrants.

The proposed legislation passed through the Senate’s Commerce and Tourism committee on Tuesday with five votes in favor and four against. If successful, it would enable teenagers to take night shifts on school days where current law prohibits working before 6:30 a.m. and after 11 p.m.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has expressed support for the bill, reiterated the need for more flexible labor laws during a recent panel with border czar Tom Homan. “Why do we say we need to import foreigners, even import them illegally, when you know teenagers used to work at these resorts? College students should be able to do this stuff,” DeSantis said.

The governor’s remarks align with a broader trend in Florida’s labor market, where the tightening of immigration laws has created challenges for local businesses. A law requiring larger employers to verify the immigration status of their workers using the E-Verify system recently added pressure, with penalties reaching $1,000 per day for noncompliance.

DeSantis acknowledged the departure of some workers due to the stricter immigration checks but defended the expectation for part-time teenage labor. “What’s wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? That’s how it used to be when I was growing up,” he stated.

This bill is part of a larger trend of easing child labor protections in Florida. Last year, legislation was passed allowing home-schooled 16- and 17-year-olds to work any hour, and the current proposal includes further changes. These changes involve eliminating working hour restrictions for home-schooled youths aged 14 and 15 and removing guaranteed meal breaks for those aged 16 and 17.

Concerns surrounding these adjustments have been raised by economists, warning that expanded child labor could lead to increased inflation and labor shortages. Critics argue that deregulating child labor laws could have adverse societal effects.

In recent years, Florida has experienced a significant rise in child labor violations, with reports suggesting that such infractions have nearly tripled. The legislative discussion scheduled for later this week will determine if further changes to child labor laws will be enacted in the state.