In Tallahassee, Florida, the state Legislature is currently reviewing a proposal that aims to ease the restrictions on working hours for teenagers in the state amidst a wider effort to curb illegal immigration. The proposed legislation seeks to allow 16- and 17-year-olds the ability to work at nighttime during school days and extend their work hours beyond the current eight-hour limit on days preceding school. Additionally, some allowances would be made for 14- and 15-year-olds to work similar hours.
Republican State Senator Jay Collins, who is championing the bill, highlighted its foundation in parental rights. He emphasized that parents are best equipped to decide whether their working teenagers can manage both work and academic responsibilities. During a recent session with the Commerce and Tourism Committee, which advanced the bill via a narrow 5-4 vote, Collins remarked, “Parents know their kids best… I can promise you that my mom would have held me accountable academically, and this mirrors the dynamics in many families.”
This legislative push coincides with Governor Ron DeSantis’s continued efforts to support federal measures for identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants in Florida. Speaking at an event at the New College of Florida, DeSantis expressed his alignment with the bill’s premise by questioning the necessity of relying on foreign labor when teenagers and college students could be potential candidates for these roles.
Senator Collins reassured that, even with this new bill, the Fair Labor Standards Act will still safeguard young workers by prohibiting hazardous working conditions. However, the proposal has faced opposition during public commentary at the committee meeting. Jackson Oberlink, representing Florida for All, criticized the bill, claiming it could lead to the “exploitation” of at-risk groups. Oberlink argued, “Make no mistake, the children who will suffer the most under this law will be low-income, working class, and migrant youth—the same communities that corporations already exploit.”
Before reaching the Senate floor, the bill still needs to secure approval from two additional committees. The debate surrounding the proposed changes continues, reflecting the complexity of balancing labor needs with the protection of young workers.