Despite how some people feel about immigrants, and even go so far as to call them “illegal aliens,” immigrants are undeniably a vital part of the American workforce. Under former President Donald Trump, however, more and more immigrants are being deported, creating serious gaps in the labor market. In response to this, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came up with what he seems to believe is a solution: expanding child labor, particularly by pushing more teenagers into the workforce.
He introduced a bill that would have allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to work longer hours. But it went further than that. The bill also targeted younger teens, permitting 14- and 15-year-olds who are homeschooled to take on overnight shifts. On top of that, it aimed to remove the required 30-minute meal breaks currently in place to protect young workers.
Thankfully, the bill failed to pass. Although it made it through the Florida House with little trouble, it got stuck in the Senate and died before the legislative session ended. It’s unclear whether DeSantis will try to bring it back or find a new way to push a similar policy. What is clear, however, is that DeSantis and many other Republicans supported the bill. Some state senators argued that it would give parents more authority over their children’s choices. DeSantis himself said that teenagers used to take on jobs like these in the past, and he doesn’t see what’s wrong with returning to that now.
Of course, not everyone supported the bill. Many people, including other state senators, strongly opposed it. Some argued that kids should simply be allowed to be kids instead of being pushed into adult responsibilities. On the internet, criticism toward the Florida government quickly piled up, with many accusing it of trying to normalize child labor. One user sarcastically wrote, “But ze children, ze yearn for ze mines!” mocking DeSantis’ position.
Others pointed out that if the state really wanted to solve labor shortages, it could have just raised the minimum wage and paid workers fairly. Some added that this approach would reduce company profits, which the wealthy are unlikely to accept. A few commenters even claimed that those in power would rather bring back teen labor and slavery than pay people a livable wage.
Some remarked that instead of relying on teen labor, Florida should simply have Republican politicians step in and do the work themselves. One user snidely commented, “Probably because then no work would get done. They’d just stand in the field crying and complaining all day.” Others added, “DeSantis can start with his own kids.”
