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In the midst of a growing labor shortage, Florida wants to allow minors as young as 14 to work night shifts, even on school days.
This measure, supported by the Republican governor Ron DeSantis and by the state legislature controlled by his party, aims to fill the vacancies left by undocumented immigrants.
The bill SB 918, approved this Tuesday by the Senate's Committee on Commerce and Tourism, removes time and labor restrictions for 16 and 17-year-olds, and relaxes the conditions for the employment of minors aged 14 and 15.
This includes allowing their participation in night shifts if they are homeschooled, have graduated from high school, are enrolled in virtual programs, or work for their parents.
The legislation also abolishes mandatory breaks for adolescents and removes the limits on daily and weekly working hours during the school year.
Current regulations prohibit working before 6:30 a.m. and after 11:00 p.m. on school days.
If approved, this reform would completely deregulate the work of secondary school students.
Minors as labor substitutes
“Why do we say that we need to import foreigners, even illegally, when, as you know, in the past teenagers worked in these tourist centers and university students should be able to do so?” expressed Governor DeSantis at a roundtable last week with Tom Homan, border czar of President Donald Trump.
“Yes, there were people who left because of those rules, but others have been hired as well. What’s wrong with expecting our young people to work part-time now? Well, that's how it was when I was a child,” the governor added, defending his vision of a return to times when teenagers were part of the low-cost workforce.
DeSantis has been one of the most staunch advocates of the law approved in 2023 that requires employers with more than 25 employees to verify the immigration status of their workers using the federal database E-Verify. Those who fail to comply with the regulation face daily fines of up to $1,000.
This repression has led to a significant decrease in workers in sectors such as construction, agriculture, hospitality, and services, which are characterized by low wages and precarious working conditions.
The Replacement: Underpaid Adolescents
According to critics, the new legislation represents an attempt to replace the migrant workforce with minors.
“We are facing yet another attempt to eliminate basic guarantees for the children of Florida, all to placate corporate interests seeking cheap labor”, warned Jackson Oberlink, spokesperson for Florida For All, an organization that advocates for labor and social rights.
The Florida Policy Institute (FPI) also expressed its opposition, pointing out that there are already more than 80,000 teenagers aged 16 to 17 working in Florida, many of whom are juggling school and low-paying jobs.
“Raising the current limits will force teenagers to accept the hours assigned to them by their employers, even if this jeopardizes their studies,” warned the institute, citing data from the U.S. Department of Labor, which reported 209 violations of child labor laws in the state alone in 2023. This is the second highest number in the last 15 years.
The political impetus and the interests behind it
Senator Jay Collins, a Republican from Tampa and sponsor of the bill, defended the proposal as an effort to better prepare young people for adulthood.
“We want our children to be academically prepared, but let's talk about soft skills. Let's talk about adult responsibilities. Let's discuss executive thinking and management. Where do they learn that? Do we teach it in school?”, he questioned.
"This is the free state of Florida... We do what is right, no matter how difficult it is or how many people oppose it," he added.
Minimizing comparisons with historical periods of child labor exploitation, the legislator commented: “Frankly, we are not talking about 'The Jungle' by Upton Sinclair. We are talking about how they work at Publix and Piggly Wiggly.”
Nevertheless, even members of the Republican Party expressed their concern.
Senator Joe Gruters, Republican from Sarasota, voted against the bill: “I believe we should let children be children. I think this sends the wrong message.”
The project also reflects a national strategy driven by conservative organizations such as the Government Accountability Foundation (FGA), based in Naples, Florida, which has promoted similar policies in other states.
This group receives funding from donors such as the Ed Uihlein Foundation, whose president, Dick Uihlein, has been one of the main financiers of DeSantis's presidential campaign.
Uncertain perspectives
Although SB 918 was approved on March 25 by the Senate committee with five votes in favor and four against, its legislative future remains uncertain. A similar proposal presented in the House of Representatives (HB 1225) has not made any progress.
Activists and experts warn that the path initiated by this legislation sets a dangerous precedent for labor deregulation that could open the door to new forms of child exploitation in a state that has already weakened its protections in previous years.
In 2023, the legislature passed a law allowing homeschooled adolescents aged 16 and 17 to work without any hour restrictions.
What began as an attempt to control irregular immigration has evolved into a labor reform that could have lasting consequences for thousands of minors in Florida.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ron DeSantis's Proposal for Child Labor in Florida
What is Ron DeSantis's proposal for minor labor in Florida?
The proposal from Ron DeSantis aims to allow minors up to 14 years old to work night shifts to address the labor shortage in Florida. The legislation would remove hour restrictions for youths aged 16 and 17 and ease conditions for those aged 14 and 15, allowing them to work under certain circumstances.
What is the objective of this youth employment proposal in Florida?
The main objective of the proposal is to fill the vacant positions left by undocumented immigrants, who have decreased in key sectors such as construction, agriculture, and hospitality due to stricter immigration policies.
What are the criticisms against the proposal for child labor in Florida?
Critics argue that the proposal could eliminate basic protections for children, exposing them to precarious and poorly paid working conditions. Organizations such as Florida For All and the Florida Policy Institute warn of the risk of child exploitation and the negative impact on adolescents' education.
How does this proposal relate to Ron DeSantis's immigration policies?
The proposal is aligned with Ron DeSantis's immigration policies, which aim to reduce undocumented immigration and replace migrant workers with local youth labor. DeSantis has implemented measures such as the mandatory use of E-Verify to check the immigration status of employees in companies with more than 25 workers.
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