Florida lawmakers are set to debate a bill that would loosen child labor laws, allowing teenagers as young as 14 to work overnight shifts on school days. The move comes as the state faces labor shortages following strict immigration policies that have led to a decline in undocumented workers.
Governor Ron DeSantis, a strong advocate for immigration enforcement, has supported the proposed changes. He argues that jobs once filled by undocumented workers should now be open to teenagers and college students. “Why do we need to bring in foreign workers illegally when teenagers used to take on these roles?” DeSantis said during a recent panel discussion with former border official Tom Homan.
The bill, which the Republican-led legislature will review on Tuesday, includes several key changes:
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Teenagers aged 14 and 15, if home-schooled, would no longer have restrictions on their working hours.
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Current regulations preventing teenagers from working past 11 p.m. or before 6:30 a.m. would be lifted.
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Meal breaks for 16- and 17-year-olds would no longer be mandatory.
This proposal follows a 2023 law that required businesses with more than 25 employees to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm workers’ legal status. Employers who fail to comply face fines of $1,000 per day. The stricter immigration rules have resulted in workforce shortages, particularly in low-wage industries.
However, critics warn that relaxing child labor protections could lead to exploitation. The number of child labor violations in Florida has nearly tripled in recent years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
As the debate unfolds, the proposal highlights the ongoing struggle between enforcing immigration laws and meeting labor demands in the state.
