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Cheap Child Labor Replacing Deported Immigrants [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-05-24
Previously there had been federal child labor laws for almost 100 years. The Department of Labor was investigating many child labor cases. The number of cases had went up drastically over the last 10 years. Then Lori Chavez became Secretary of Labor under Trump. She began cutting workers and stopping investigations into infractions of the laws.
In 2022 through 2025 the following states changed their laws regarding child labor:
ARK HB1410 — Eliminates age verification and parental permission requirements
IOWA SF1617 — Lifts restrictions on hazardous work, lowers age for alcohol service, extends work hours, GRANTS EMPLOYER IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR WORKPLACE INJURIES, ILLNESS OR DEATH
MINN SF375 — Lifts restrictions on hazardous work
MO SB175 — Eliminates work certification for 16 and 17 year olds
NEB LB15 — Subminimum wage for youth
NJ A4222 — Extends work hours and increases time before break
OHIO SB30 — Extends work hours
FLA SB460 — Allows 16 & 17 year olds to work residential construction HB49 — Allows 16 & 17 year olds to work 40 hours a week when school is in session, allows employers to schedule kids to work more than 8 hours a day on school nights, more than 6 days in a row and without a break.
IND HB103 — eliminates hazardous agricultural work protections from 16—17 years old
MICH has morals. It introduced a bill to make tougher punishments for violations of state labor laws
The Republicans say they are the party of family values. 16 and 17 year olds are not adults as Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said, “...the legislation provided tailored common sense labor provisions that allow young adults to develop their skills in the workforce.”
The “deportation driven labor shortages” are pushing a dangerous trend for children and teenagers. These states do not care if these kids work too much at a cheap rate to keep up with their school work. Iowa doesn’t care if they die doing work intended for real adults. It’s fine if these lower income children drop out of school as long they keep doing the work that no rich persons child will do.
Trump and ICE have deported around 50% of the immigrant workforce. These were people who came here and were willing to do jobs that most Americans would not do. They weren't violent criminals. They weren't a threat to our country. Now they are gone and states are jumping to push children to do the jobs that got left behind.
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