Teens under age 16 no longer need a work permit through the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing before they can start a job.

Driving the news: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed HB1410, dubbed the "Youth Hiring Act of 2023," into law last week.

Why it matters: Child and immigrant advocates worry that eliminating the permits makes it easier to get away with violating child labor laws and for predatory employers to take advantage of disadvantaged children who don't have parents looking out for them.

Zoom out: States across the country are loosening child labor laws to resolve a worsening labor shortage.

• The U.S. Department of Labor reacted by announcing a crackdown last month on child labor after tracking a 69% increase in illegally employed kids since 2018.

How it works: Both federal and state laws govern child labor. It's legal in Arkansas to hire anyone ages 14 and up with restrictions on the hours they can work and what jobs they can take.

• Teens 16 and up do not need a permit for employment. Rules for ages 14-15 remain more restrictive than for older teens, including how late they can work.
• Applications for work permits previously required parent signatures.
• The state only investigates child labor when there's a complaint, Steve Guntharp of the Department of Labor and Licensing said during a March 1 state Senate committee meeting.
• Doing away with the permits does not change any other restrictions associated with child labor.

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