Florida Considers Loosening Child Labor Laws Amid Worker Shortage

2025-03-28 politics

Tallahassee, Friday, 28 March 2025.
Florida is debating Senate Bill 918, which would allow teenagers to work longer hours, even overnight, to address labor shortages caused by immigration policy changes. Critics warn of exploitation.

Legislative Push and Political Context

On March 24, 2025, Florida’s Senate Commerce and Tourism committee advanced Senate Bill 918 with a narrow margin of five votes to four [1]. The Republican-sponsored legislation, introduced by State Senator Jay Collins (R-Tampa), would eliminate working time restrictions for homeschooled teenagers aged 14-15 and remove mandatory meal breaks for 16 and 17-year-olds [2]. Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly supported the measure, explicitly linking it to addressing labor shortages caused by the state’s strict immigration enforcement policies [3].

Current Labor Landscape

The push for expanded youth employment comes as Florida grapples with significant workforce challenges. According to recent data, immigrants comprise 21% of Florida’s population and 26% of its labor force [4]. The state has already implemented aggressive measures against undocumented workers, including a 2023 law that imposes $1,000 daily fines on employers who fail to verify immigration status through E-Verify [5]. Notably, child labor violations in Florida have shown concerning trends, increasing from 95 in 2019 to 281 in 2022, before slightly decreasing to 209 in 2023 [6].

Safety Concerns and Opposition

Democratic lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to the proposed changes. Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) warns that the bill could lead to the exploitation of minors [7]. These concerns are particularly relevant given that Florida maintains prohibitions on hazardous occupations for minors, including construction, meat packing, and logging [4]. Educational impacts are also at stake, as studies indicate teens working over 20 hours weekly face increased risks of poor academic performance and dropout rates. This is especially concerning given that Florida already faces a 19.9% chronic absenteeism rate among students during the 2023-2024 school year [4].

Next Steps and Implementation Timeline

The bill must clear two additional committees before reaching the full Senate for a vote [8]. If passed, the law would take effect on July 1, 2025 [9]. The measure represents part of a broader trend, as several Republican-led states have recently moved to roll back child labor protections [10]. This legislative initiative aligns with Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint that specifically calls for reducing regulations around youth employment [10].

Sources

child labor immigration