Two bills that could loosen child labor laws are moving through the Florida legislature, making it easier for teens to work longer hours in more dangerous jobs, as the state battles a labor shortage which some critics say is made worse by a crackdown on undocumented immigrant workers.
A Florida bill that was passed by a state senate committee Wednesday could allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work on construction projects in residential areas, as long as the projects are lower than six feet, a revision from the original text that sought to allow the teens to work on roofs.
A separate bill called Employment and Curfew of Minors is moving through the state house legislature committee, and intends to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work up to 40 hours a week (30 is the current law), even when school is in session.
The latter bill, introduced by Republican state Rep. Linda Chaney, would force 16- and 17-year-olds to be given the same amount of breaks as adults — and employers are not required under Florida law to give employees 18 and older paid or unpaid breaks — a change to the current law which requires 30 minute breaks every four hours.
Minors who are 16- and 17-years-old who aren’t enrolled in school or are enrolled in homeschool or virtual programs would be allowed to work during school hours if Chaney’s bill becomes a law.
Some experts are attributing the new labor laws to a crackdown on undocumented workers. “These issues are very closely...
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