Good editorial article by Stu Ellis, FarmGate on the newly proposed Child Labor laws. How do you think they might affect your farm and your children’s future in agriculture? Have you submitted a comment to the U.S. Department of Labor yet?
The newly proposed regulations from the Department of Labor will delay the education of a farm kid well past the point he or she may ever want to return to the farm. Ag restrictions are being placed on what can be done at certain ages.
Sorry, can’t go out to the machine shed, you’ll be hurt. Sorry, can’t go to the barn, you’ll be hurt. Sorry, can’t mow the lawn, you’ll be hurt. Sorry, can’t touch the family GPS unit, you’ll be hurt. Oh, and don’t even think about going near the county fair livestock show ring, Dad or Mom will be showing your 4-H and FFA projects because you’ll be hurt, if you try that.
It is not a thrill to read the 50 pages in the Federal Register where such new regulations are proposed, but it was published September 2, beginning on page 54836. On the Internet, it is here.
The Department of Labor is proposing new rules for the Child Labor Act. Not many farm kids would consider themselves slaves, because they would rather be with Mom and Dad learning what happens on the farm, with hands-on, on the job training.
However the restrictions being proposed will severely reduce those opportunities, and in some cases eliminate them until they are at least 16, and in some cases 18 years of age.
These proposals could become part of the Child Labor Act unless changes are made, and the Department of Labor is accepting comments through December 1. If you have a comment, submit it here.
Source: Stu Ellis, FarmGate
Photo Source: Smithsonian National Zoo
3 Comments on “On the Newly Proposed Child Labor Laws”
I’m kind of confused. The first thing it says is that this will not affect kids working on their parents’ farms, only hired help.
I’m kind of confused. The first thing it says is that this will not affect kids working on their parents’ farms, only hired help.
I’m kind of confused. The first thing it says is that this will not affect kids working on their parents’ farms, only hired help.