Florida Bill Could Let Teens Work Unlimited Hours as Labor Shortages Grow

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Florida's recent push to relax child labor laws reveals a complex economic strategy tied to immigration policy.

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It potentially allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work unlimited hours with no mandatory breaks.

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Dick Uihlein, who leads the foundation, was a significant donor to DeSantis's presidential campaign.

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“We're facing another attempt to strip away basic safeguards for Florida's children, all to appease corporate interests.”

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U.S. Labor Department statistics show Florida had 1,691 child labor violations in 2023 and 2024.

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The Florida Policy Institute reports over 80,000 16- and 17-year-olds are already employed.

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The removal of immigrant workers has created immediate economic pressures.

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“I think we should allow kids to work the hours they're allowed now with the (parent) waiver system.”

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[{"selector":"#anim-91f7ea2c-b02e-429f-baf8-9e7a2e5631f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-73bed931-61ba-4adf-8f01-1f6976a0d72c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-24d5cd2e-4080-4924-99df-6e82130f9dba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a873057c-404b-4dd5-bb32-def990c68465","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1b76634-2543-4f56-8289-fd2b794be154","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Indiana's Autism Therapy Costs Soar Amid $56M in Improper Payments Learn more