The Return of Child Labor - Part Two

Last week, I told you that proposals to water down child labor laws are being considered or already have been enacted in 10 states. You can add Florida to the list. 

A Florida House Republican has proposed a new law that will allow 16 and 17 year-olds to work the same number of hours as an adult. Currently, they are unable to work before 6:30 am or after 11 pm. 

It's unclear whether this bill has enough support to pass or whether Governor Ron DeSantis will sign it. 

According to a Jacksonville news source, these proposals are coming from The Foundation for Government Accountability, a conservative think tank that views child labor protections like work permits or local licensing as too burdensome. 

The Return of Child Labor

My maternal grandfather was a proud man. He was unable to read or write, but liked to carry a newspaper and pretend. He particularly enjoyed showing off his signature, complete with flourishes. He was illiterate because he never had any education. He was sent off to the mines when he was a little boy, where his job was to pick up pieces of coal that had fallen off the railcars that lunged upwards from the bowels of the earth. That's where he lost two fingers. He was fortunately very mechanically inclined (unlike me) and able to provide for his family until coal dust took its toll on his lungs. I often wonder how far he would have gone and how much longer he would have lived had he been sitting in a classroom, above ground, during his youth. You may think I'm speaking about ancient history, but a federal ban on child labor has existed less than a century. If some right-leaning groups have their way, it will be making a return. 

It was not until 1916 that a federal ban on child labor was enacted (over the objection of Pennsylvania's two senators), and that was struck down a mere nine moths later by a Supreme Court who considered interstate commerce far more important than children's lives. A child labor ban that stuck was finally enacted in 1938 under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

According to Governing, a relaxation of child labor laws is being considered or has already been adopted in 10 states. Wisconsin is pondering legislation to lengthen the hours children under 18 may work and to allow 14-year-olds to serve drinks in bars.  Laws have been relaxed or are being considered in 10 other states. Iowa is now letting children as young as 14 work in factories. Nebraska is debating a bill to allow 8th graders to drop out of school and go to work, so long as their parents agree.  Arkansas legislators are considering allowing 16 and 17 year-olds to work 50 hours per week when not in school. Idaho and Maine are thinking about allowing minors to work in the logging industry, 

Children should be earning an education, not money. 

When you hear about the children sewing your clothing in India or mining the cobalt for your cell phone batteries in the Congo, that tragic child abuse might soon be here..