logo
ENع
Florida's proposed solution for losing migrant workers: more teen labor

Florida's proposed solution for losing migrant workers: more teen labor

Axios25-03-2025

Amid state and national immigration crackdowns that are narrowing the workforce, Florida lawmakers are exploring what Gov. Ron DeSantis considers a potential solution: more child labor.
Why it matters: Allowing kids to work longer hours could cut into their education, hurting their academic prospects, and would likely disproportionately harm low-income youth who have to work because of their circumstances, advocates told the Tampa Bay Times.
State of play: A Senate committee on Tuesday advanced Senate Bill 918, which would allow teenagers as young as 14 to work overnight shifts and remove time limitations and required meal breaks for 16- and 17-year-old workers.
The vote comes a week after DeSantis suggested that young workers could help replace "dirt cheap" labor performed by undocumented workers.
"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 at a panel discussion with President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan.
Zoom in: The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, removes all time restrictions in Florida law for 16- and 17-year-old workers.
Those regulations include bans on working before 6:30am or after 11pm on school days or for more than eight hours in one day or 30 hours in a week when school is in session.
It would also remove those protections for 14- and 15-year-old workers under certain conditions, including if they've graduated high school or obtained their GED, are enrolled in virtual or home school, or work for their parents.
Flashback: A similar proposal last year, pushed by the conservative Foundation for Government Accountability, was watered down by the end of the lawmaking session, the Times reported.
What they're saying: At Tuesday's meeting, Collins said his bill fills a gap in teaching kids "executive function."
"We want our kids to be academically prepared," he said, "but let's talk about soft skills. Let's talk about adult function. Let's talk about executive thought process and management. Where do they learn that? Do we teach them that in school?"
Child labor is "fundamentally a parental rights issue," he added. "This is the free state of Florida. … We do what's right, no matter how difficult it is or how many people stand up against it."
Yes, but: Even members of Collins' party expressed discomfort with some aspects of the bill and said it needed work.
"I share many of the same concerns that my colleagues do up here," Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, told Collins. "We're talking about 14- and 15-year-olds."
Between the lines: Federal child labor laws also place limits on work by kids younger than 16, including hours restrictions. Workers who are 16 or 17 don't face a federal hours limit for non-agricultural jobs.
The bill passed the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism 5-4, with one Republican lawmaker, Sarasota Sen. Joe Gruters, joining Democrats in voting against it.

Hashtags

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ex-Texas US Rep. Blake Farenthold, who left office amid harassment allegations, dies at 63
Ex-Texas US Rep. Blake Farenthold, who left office amid harassment allegations, dies at 63

Hamilton Spectator

timean hour ago

  • Hamilton Spectator

Ex-Texas US Rep. Blake Farenthold, who left office amid harassment allegations, dies at 63

Former Texas Republican U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, who left Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, has died. He was 63. He died in a Corpus Christi hospital and suffered heart and liver problems in recent years, Steve Ray, his former longtime political consultant, said. Farenthold's wife, Debbie Farenthold, confirmed that he died Friday. Blake Farenthold was elected in 2010, upsetting long-serving Democratic U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz. Seven years later, Farenthold announced that he wouldn't seek reelection. In a video he posted on his campaign's Facebook page at the time, he denied a former aide's three-year-old accusations, which included that he'd subjected her to sexually suggestive comments and behavior and then fired her after she complained. He apologized for an office atmosphere he said included 'destructive gossip, offhand comments, off-color jokes and behavior that in general was less than professional.' He said in the video that if he stayed in Congress, he would have spent months trying to vindicate himself. 'We all make mistakes,' Ray said Saturday. 'He made some mistakes.' Ray described him as a 'techie' who was interested in the internet and technology before getting involved in politics. 'He did a tremendous job as congressman for this area,' Ray said, noting that Farenthold cared about fighting crime and promoting transparency. 'His heart was really always in the right place.' Before becoming a congressman, Farenthold was a sidekick for a conservative radio talk show host, Ray said. 'When he decided to run, nobody in the world thought he was going to win,' Ray said. When he left office, he started his own radio show until he died. In addition to his wife, Farenthold is survived by two adult daughters, Morgan Baucum and Amanda Lawrence, Ray said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store