Michigan Considers Changes to Youth Employment Regulations
In Michigan, a proposed legislative bill is set to change the current work permit system for minors under 16. The bill, which is under review in committee, seeks to modify existing rules about the employment of young workers, including the hours they are allowed to work.
One of the significant changes proposed includes shifting the responsibility for verifying a minor’s age from the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to individual employers. Anne Kuhnen, who serves as the Kids Count Policy Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, has expressed concerns over this amendment.
“The age verification system being proposed is really what it sounds like. All it does is ask the employers to have documentation that shows how old a minor is in their employment,” Kuhnen commented, emphasizing that the existing system offers robust checks and provides crucial rights information to both minors and their parents.
Furthermore, the proposed legislation would prevent the state Labor Department from revoking a minor’s work permit due to academic issues, such as poor attendance or behavior problems. This could allow students facing academic challenges to continue working without restrictions.
Kuhnen highlighted that this proposal could potentially weaken child labor regulations, posing risks to young workers. “Research has shown that states with work permit system requirements see 17% fewer child labor violations under the Federal Labor Standards Act,” she noted.
Kuhnen concluded, “If we really value the lives and well-being of all children, then our laws really need to reflect those values.”
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