Florida debates lifting some child labor laws to fill jobs vacated by undocumented immigrants
Source: CNN Business
Published 7:58 AM EDT, Tue March 25, 2025
New York CNN Florida has been working for years to crack down on employers that hire undocumented immigrants. But that presented a problem for businesses in the state that are desperate for workers to fill low-wage and often undesirable jobs. Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature have a potential solution: children.
The states legislature on Tuesday is set to debate a bill that would loosen child labor laws, allowing children as young as 14 years old to work overnight shifts. If the new law is passed, teenagers would be able to work overnight jobs on school days. They are currently prevented from working earlier than 6:30 am or later than 11 pm per state law.
DeSantis is supportive of the law and has been vocal of cracking down on immigration, echoing President Donald Trumps rhetoric. However, economists have warned that could backfire, sparking further inflation and labor shortages. Why do we say we need to import foreigners, even import them illegally, when you know, teenagers used to work at these resorts, college students should be able to do this stuff, DeSantis said last week at a panel discussion with border czar Tom Homan, as first reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
A Florida law was signed in 2023 requiring employers with more than 25 employees that checks their immigration status using a federal database known as E-Verify. Employers who dont comply with the law face fines of $1,000 per day until they provide proof that their workers are legal citizens. Yes, we had people that left because of those rules, but youve also been able to hire other people. And whats wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time now? I mean, thats how it used to be when I was growing up, DeSantis also said during the panel discussion.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/25/business/florida-child-labor-laws/index.html
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/gabrielsanchez/disturbing-pictures-from-when-child-labor-was-legal-in
https://wordsfrom.us/2015/09/the-case-against-child-labor-laws/
You wondered when the lunkheads would finally "get it" when it comes to kicking out your "workforce". I don't know where they thought these people were located.


NotHardly
(2,044 posts)ananda
(31,420 posts)I saw this coming.
Du916
(82 posts)It all comes from Florida, and it is bad for you. Destroy the need for growers to use child labor.
Bayard
(24,620 posts)
patphil
(7,597 posts)It seems unlikely that we'll find enough kids ready to take all the jobs that will open up as deportations gut the work force, especially since they won't be putting in near the hours the immigrants did.
What they're preparing to do in Florida doesn't allow for kids to go to school and do all of the outside of class assignments required.
Also, some of the jobs will still be outside those young kids are allowed to have, such as roofing, and the use of heavy equipment.
No matter how they change the laws, young kids aren't going to come close to covering the empty jobs the Trump government creates with their brutal deportations.
Lonestarblue
(12,488 posts)Republicans seem to think that only minority kids are poor and thus its okay to for e them to give up an education to help feed their families. Were going back to the late 1800s with these policies.
iscooterliberally
(3,069 posts)




Vinca
(51,828 posts)Biophilic
(5,438 posts)Young white people are not the ones they are thinking about, No, those young white boys will be in school where they belong. The other "young people" will be where "they belong." Makes me so mad I honestly start seeing red. I hate these smug racist bastards.
Maraya1969
(23,229 posts)like that. And then ask them why?
Initech
(104,394 posts)
angryxyouth
(209 posts)If you make people poor enough and hungry enough without any type of health care, they will put their kids to work and eventually be happy about it.
Hekate
(96,968 posts)
scrambling for the worst jobs.
et tu
(2,081 posts)
also this follows on the heels of some
other s. states exploiting child labor laws
for meat packing plants- can't see r's kids
doing this yep class system enlarged
Pinback
(13,104 posts) I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half.
attributed (perhaps apocryphally) to 19th century robber baron Jay Gould.
nowforever
(476 posts)Most 12 year olds can mow grass and run meat grinders
Ray Bruns
(5,091 posts)angrychair
(10,442 posts)Overnight shifts on a weekday?!? Does this mean overnight or obviously past 2300 hrs.
When exactly are they supposed to go to school?
Sleep? Eat? Do homework?
nowforever
(476 posts)16 year olds that have dropped out of school will be allowed to work longer hours. Trouble is highly skilled migrant workers will not be replaced by American teens
angryxyouth
(209 posts)I remove this post because I posted it again without it because I forgot For a moment how to edit. Old age brain fart
angryxyouth
(209 posts)No money for food, weed, cell phones. Mom and dad say cant stay locked up in your room playing video games all day. Go pick some vegetables. The government has placement systems for teen farm workers. They will house you and feed you. Of course that comes out of your paycheck. The child labor force will only get larger because mostly southern poor women will not be able to get abortions
Pinback
(13,104 posts)Not legally. What an asshole.
New Florida motto: Less Disney, More Dickens.
Mr. Mustard 2023
(308 posts)it's not our fault....
Notice how the "oh so tough & superior" MAGA white boys & girls are always "victims" to some devious people?
Notice how MAGA are always victims when their incompetence flairs into the public?
I'm sick of them. Sick of their lies, and blaming others for their actions.
Enough.
DFW
(57,609 posts)Kuds in school all day and working all night will get tired and some will have fatal accidents. That cuts down on future recipients of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Cant lose in GOP eyes!
IronLionZion
(48,243 posts)Put those lazy entitled kids to work. End social security and get lazy entitled retirees too. MAGA!
mcar
(44,342 posts)Jesus wept.
BumRushDaShow
(149,911 posts)

mcar
(44,342 posts)
Irish_Dem
(67,084 posts)Bengus81
(8,498 posts)Gawd.............
mgardener
(1,999 posts)If they are allowed to work overnight at 14, then they can certainly have a baby.
What will they say when the test scores start dropping?
EllieBC
(3,438 posts)to do the job?
maxrandb
(16,441 posts)Are they calling it "The Matthew Gaetz Bill"?