By Niki Kelley | Indiana Capital Chroncle
For The Republic
INDIANAPOLIS — A House employment committee voted 8-3 Thursday to ease several child labor laws, including allowing youth as young as 14 to work during school hours with parental permission.
Supporters noted the bill mirrors existing federal law and a key amendment is largely aimed at Amish or Mennonite children who don’t go to school past eighth grade. But opponents stressed the need for child labor laws and keeping children in school.
“As it turns out, state regulations are more stringent than federal regulations when it comes to employing our youth workforce,” said Rep. Kendall Culp, R-Rensselaer.
House Bill 1093 repeals provisions restricting how long and when minors between 16 and 18 can work. It also specifies that a prohibition on kids aged 16 to 18 working in a hazardous occupation doesn’t apply to youth performing farm labor.
An amendment was added with language from House Bill 1062 that a child who is at least 14 and has completed eighth grade can work during traditional work hours with parent approval.
Stephen Jones testified that when a child or a student leaves the structure of a school, their learning doesn’t end.
“We teach our children to work in a responsible way so that they can become productive citizens in our society,” he said.
In response to a question about hazardous jobs, he said, “I can answer that as a minister and a grandfather in our community… every Amish family, Mennonite family, does everything they can to protect the wellbeing of their child.”
Shawn Christ, secretary treasurer for the Indiana State AFL-CIO, called the bill “an attempt to roll back child labor protections that have been fought for for generations after generation.”
He noted that in the 19th Century, one in every six minors under 16 was employed. But years of advocacy and common sense have reduced that.
“We believe that children should focus on improving their education and obtaining skills transferrable to the workplace,” Christ said. “We believe that removal of the work hour restrictions for children who are 16 to 17 makes them vulnerable to potential abuse of being overworked by unscrupulous employers at the expense of their education.”
Others who testified in support, including Indiana Beach Amusement Park, said it’s a struggle to fill positions when students have to stop working at 7 p.m. on school days. And yet other students who participate in sports are out well past those times.
The committee voted 8-3, with all Democrats against the bill. It now moves to the full House.
— The Indiana Capital Chronicle covers state government and the state legislature. For more, visit indianacapitalchronicle.com.
