Florida Republicans, facing a severe labor shortage after passing harsh anti-immigrant laws, are now turning to an unexpected workforce: children.
A controversial bill advancing in the state Senate would dismantle key child labor protections, allowing employers to schedule 14- and 15-year-olds for overnight shifts and eliminating mandatory meal breaks for older teens. The proposal, which critics call a reckless return to exploitative labor practices, comes as Florida struggles to fill jobs once held by undocumented migrants.
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A “Solution” to a GOP-Made Problem
Florida’s labor crisis is largely self-inflicted. After Gov. Ron DeSantis signed sweeping legislation last year cracking down on undocumented workers—including measures that penalize businesses hiring them—the state now has just 53 available workers for every 100 job openings, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Rather than reconsidering its immigration stance, the GOP-led legislature is pushing Senate Bill 1596, which would:
- Remove time restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds, allowing them to work past 11 p.m. and before 6:30 a.m. on school nights.
- Eliminate the 30-hour weekly cap for teen workers during the school year.
- Scrap mandatory meal breaks for shifts longer than eight hours.
- Exempt student interns from minimum wage requirements.
DeSantis has openly championed the idea, suggesting teens should replace migrant labor in industries like tourism and agriculture.
“Why do we say we need to import foreigners, even import them illegally, when you know, teenagers used to work at these resorts?” DeSantis said at a recent event. “College students should be able to do this stuff. That’s how it used to be when I was growing up.”
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“Let Kids Be Kids” vs. “Soft Skills” Argument
Supporters, including bill sponsor Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa), claim the changes will teach teens “executive function” and workforce readiness.
“We want our kids to be academically prepared, but let’s talk about soft skills,” Collins argued during a committee hearing. “This is the free state of Florida. We do what’s right, no matter how many people stand against it.”
But even some Republicans balked. Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), the lone GOP “no” vote, warned: “We need to let kids be kids.”
Democrats and labor advocates were far harsher.
“This bill is going to lead to exploitation of minors, exploitation of children,” said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D).
Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO added that the bill shifts power from parents to employers:
“Right now, parents and students have flexibility through waivers. This takes that away and hands it to corporations.”
A National Trend
Florida isn’t alone. Arkansas, Iowa, and other GOP-led states have recently weakened child labor laws, citing worker shortages. Federal rules still restrict under-16 labor, but state-level rollbacks make enforcement harder.
Critics say the push ignores a simple truth: Teens shouldn’t bear the burden of filling jobs left vacant by punitive immigration policies.
“What kind of future are we creating for them?” asked Sen. Kristen Arrington (D).
The bill now heads to the full Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: Florida’s labor crisis won’t be solved on the backs of children.
