As the Trump administration intensifies efforts to enforce stricter immigration policies and deport undocumented immigrants, a worker shortage has emerged. This raises the question: who will take on the essential jobs previously held by these workers, often at significant costs?
In response, Florida—a Republican-led state known for its beaches and extreme weather—has proposed a controversial solution: encouraging teenagers to enter the workforce.
“There’s nothing wrong with expecting our young people to work part-time. That’s how it was when I was growing up,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told the media. He questioned why the state should rely on foreign workers, especially undocumented ones, when teenagers and college students could fill these roles.
Worker shortage: Proposal to Relax Child Labor Laws
On Tuesday, Florida lawmakers introduced a bill that seeks to ease child labor restrictions. If passed, the legislation would allow 14-year-olds to work overnight shifts, eliminating the existing prohibition on working between 11 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., according to media.
The bill cleared the Florida Senate’s Commerce and Tourism Committee in a narrow 5-4 vote. It must now pass two more committees before reaching the full Senate for approval.
Concerns Over Child Labor Exploitation
Critics argue that rolling back child labor protections could lead to teenagers being treated like adults in the workplace, despite their developing bodies and minds. Alexis Tsoukalas, a senior policy analyst at the Florida Policy Institute, warned that the bill could allow employers to schedule teens for unlimited hours and overnight shifts without mandatory breaks, even during the school year.
While he acknowledged that teens may want to work for extra income, Tsoukalas emphasized the need for safeguards to prevent exploitation.
Florida previously passed a similar law in 2023 that expanded working hours for minors, lifting restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in virtual learning programs.
Immigration Crackdown and Worker Shortages
That same year, Florida enacted legislation requiring businesses with over 25 employees to verify workers’ legal status, making it harder for undocumented immigrants to find jobs. Critics had already warned that this would create a labor shortage.
Thomas Kennedy, a spokesperson for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, accused the state of exploiting minors to address these workforce gaps. He argued that instead of adjusting immigration policies, lawmakers are widening the labor pool by allowing younger workers.
“They refuse to consider migration as a solution, so their only alternative is to expand who can work—either by increasing the retirement age or lowering the minimum working age. They chose the latter,” Kennedy told the media.
However, both Kennedy and Tsoukalas remain hopeful that the bill may face resistance in the state Senate, as some Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns.
Child Labor Violations in Other States
Florida is not alone in loosening child labor laws. In Arkansas, child labor violations surged by 266% between 2020 and 2023, according to a report by Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF). More than half of these violations involved minors working beyond legally permitted hours.
In 2023, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill eliminating the requirement for employment certificates for underage workers, arguing that the rule was an unnecessary government burden on parents.
