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Florida lawmakers are pushing forward a controversial bill that would ease child labor restrictions, allowing teenagers as young as 14 years old to work overnight shifts, even on school days.
The proposal, which advanced through the Florida Senate’s Commerce and Tourism Committee on Tuesday in a narrow 5-4 vote, comes as the state faces labor shortages due to stricter immigration policies. The bill still needs approval from two additional committees before a full Senate vote.
If passed, the bill would remove limits on how late 14- and 15-year-olds can work—restrictions that currently prohibit them from working past 11 p.m. on school nights. It would also eliminate guaranteed meal breaks for 16- and 17-year-olds and further relax work-hour restrictions for home-schooled teens.
Filling Labor Gaps After Immigration Crackdown
The Republican-led initiative aligns with Governor Ron DeSantis’ crackdown on undocumented workers. In 2023, Florida enacted a law requiring employers with more than 25 employees to use E-Verify, a federal database that checks workers’ immigration status. Employers who fail to comply face fines of $1,000 per day.
As a result, many undocumented workers left the state, leading to labor shortages in industries that rely on low-wage employees.
Governor DeSantis defended the new child labor proposal, arguing that American teenagers should take jobs previously filled by undocumented workers.
“Why do we say we need to import foreigners, even illegally, when teenagers used to work at these resorts? College students should be able to do this stuff,” DeSantis said last week during a panel discussion with former ICE director Tom Homan, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
Child Labor Violations on the Rise
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that child labor violations in Florida have nearly tripled in recent years. Critics warn that rolling back protections could further increase workplace exploitation among minors.
“Yes, we had people that left because of those rules, but you’ve also been able to hire other people,” DeSantis added. “And what’s wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time? That’s how it used to be when I was growing up.”
Opponents argue that pushing teens into the workforce to compensate for missing laborers could have negative consequences on education and well-being.
“This is a step backward,” said Democratic State Senator Tina Polsky, who voted against the bill. “We should be making sure kids stay in school and have a chance to succeed, not working long hours to fill a labor gap.”
The bill is part of a broader trend in Florida of relaxing child labor protections. Last year, lawmakers passed a law allowing home-schooled 16- and 17-year-olds to work unlimited hours.
As the state legislature prepares to debate the bill further, Florida’s economic and immigration policies continue to shape its workforce—and now, potentially, the futures of its youngest workers.
