Long in the works, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is set to release
proposed updates to child labor regulations aimed at safety concerns in
agriculture-related jobs.
DOL officials -- who claim the fatality rate for
teenagers working in agriculture is four times greater than the risk for
the average working teenager -- say the proposals will not impact
current exemptions for children of farmers working on family operations. Exemptions for such children are
"legislative and nothing in (these new regulations) would disturb that
particular legislative provision,” said Michael Hancock, DOL Assistant
Administrator for Policy, during a Wednesday afternoon press conference. For other farm-working youths, however,
the proposed rules – which have not been updated since the 1970
Fair Labor Standards Act – would add new restrictions and flat-out bans. Among them:
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Strengthening of current child labor
regulations prohibiting agricultural work with animals and in pesticide
handling, timber operations, manure pits and storage bins.
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Prohibition of youths at country grain
elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges
and livestock auctions.
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1 comment:
This is a labor law that will tear apart our agricultural backgrounds. I am 19 years old and worked ever since I was old enough to ride a horse by myself. I loved it and wouldnt trade the world for all the bumps bruises and broken bones. It built character and made me strong as well as kept me out of trouble. Uncle Sam quit messing with our lives. Quit telling us every little thing we can or cant do. God save us from those we have elected.
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