Rollback of FL child labor laws? Kids could work more than 30 hours a week during the school year

[RandySF]

A controversial measure in the Legislature that would remove restrictions on work hours for 16 and 17-year-olds sparked concerns from members of the public Wednesday, saying teens could potentially be harmed by the changes.

The proposal by Tampa Bay area Republican Rep. Linda Chaney (HB 49) would allow 16 and 17-year olds to work more than 30 hours a week during the school year and allow for fewer mandatory work breaks.

“Employers consider the entry level work of teens like jobs in hospitality, grocery and retail to be ‘invisible curriculum’ that teaches them the soft skills that bolsters candidates for future opportunities,” Chaney told lawmakers in introducing the legislation. “HR mangers say Gen X’ers lack career readiness skills, reducing their employment opportunities. These skills are learned as teens in their entry level positions, if they so choose.”

The proposal was approved on a party-line vote on Wednesday in the House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee, and is just one committee stop away from making it to the House floor for final approval. (The state Senate also would have to approve the measure, as would Gov. Ron DeSantis.)



https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/01/10/rollback-of-fl-child-labor-laws-kids-could-work-more-than-30-hours-a-week-during-the-school-year/

[Lonestarblue]

1. Evidently the party of fake family values thinks that more teens working is better for them than getting an education.

This seems like one more way to hold down labor costs and give businesses more profits by hiring teens. Of course, Florid has already turned public education into Republican propaganda, so maybe teens who sleep through their classes because they worked until midnight on school nights won’t actually miss much.

[Chainfire]

2. You have to have cheap labor, and "We don't need no education."

Besides that, all of the immigrants that DeSantis has run out of Florida have to be replaced by someone. Perhaps they can redefine working at Burger King as an apprenticeship program and therefore educational. Business over the people, that is what Republicans are all about. Their magic is that they have convinced the people that they harm the most, that they are the saviors of God, Mom and apple pie, and that anything that benefits workers is Communism.