Missouri GOP trying to repeal child labour laws

loldog

So, this is the true face of Libertarianism.

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=406876

The GOP are hellbent on returning us all to the working conditions that existed at the beginning of the 19th century.

Denerick

What the hell is that source?

Big deal. I was working in a mushroom house when I was 14. A little common sense wouldn't hurt (As in, being allowed to do part time and summer work before the age of 16) I doubt it will lead to 6 year old children working in factories.

loldog

That's the usual sort of response from those who can't see what's happening. These things happen in such small increments that nobody makes a fuss until it's too late. In fact, it's so much not a big deal that I wonder why these laws were introduced in the first place. Hmmm....

.

Denerick

loldog wrote: »

That's the usual sort of response from those who can't see what's happening. These things happen in such small increments that nobody makes a fuss until it's too late. In fact, it's so much not a big deal that I wonder why these laws were introduced in the first place. Hmmm....

.

Ah, the 'legalise pot and you'll increase heroin consumption exponentially' argument.

Try again.

Overheal

Oh. Calm. Down.

Think about agriculture jobs. Ones which as we all know go to illegal immigrants who are willing to work for far below the minimum wage.

I mowed my neighbor's lawn for $20 a go. I was 11. Shouldve done more lawns, actually, and made a killing. Before that I was alphabetizing medical files for GPs when I was 9.

This bill just sounds like it would legalize most of the under-the-counter "Child Labor" practices that already take place.

If you want to talk about this I suggest not starting off with the 19th Century Hyperbole.

Manic Moran

The kid is quite likely to earn more pocket money working in a hotel for for hours on a saturday than he will selling lemonade for the same amount of time. If they can pull it off, more power to them. I was exploited as a kid. All that work cutting the grass for my dad got me exactly 50p. A little job mobility might have allowed me to get that super soaker before the end of summer.

NTM

Overheal

Mmmm, sweet revenge-soakings

Mjollnir

loldog wrote: »

So, this is the true face of Libertarianism.

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=406876

The GOP are hellbent on returning us all to the working conditions that existed at the beginning of the 19th century.

A. It's not particularly the 'true' face of anything, including Libertarianism or libertarianism.

B. Libertarianism is incompatible with the GOP, it's policies and it's history.

southsiderosie

Denerick wrote: »

What the hell is that source?

Big deal. I was working in a mushroom house when I was 14. A little common sense wouldn't hurt (As in, being allowed to do part time and summer work before the age of 16) I doubt it will lead to 6 year old children working in factories.

Under the current law, a 14-year old would be able to work for 8 hours a day with permission from their parents because school is out of session during the summer. Generally, the agricultural sector is exempt from a lot of labor laws. And according to the article, kids are allowed to do casual work, regardless of age - they just need to be 14 and have permission for formal work, which is a reasonable compromise.

I don't actually understand the point of this legislation, other than getting national media attention.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Black Swan

I've been working part-time since I turned thirteen, and now pursue a masters degree across the pond. Although anecdotal in my case, starting work young challenged me to be a bit more responsible than my non-working classmates, and apparently did not affect my academic progress.

Certainly we should be mindful of child labour laws, and be certain to monitor and punish violating employers, but well supervised part-time early work experiences may have benefits too towards childhood development.

20Cent

Here's the summary:

http://www.senate.mo.gov/11info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=4124271

Looks pretty bad to me opening the door to all kinds of abuse.
Why remove the safegards if they are already in place?
Seems like a charter for employers to exploit child labour.


Restrictions on the number of hours and restrictions on when a child may work during the day are also removed.
It also repeals the requirement that a child ages fourteen or fifteen obtain a work certificate or work permit in order to be employed.
Children under sixteen will also be allowed to work in any capacity in a motel, resort or hotel where sleeping accommodations are furnished.
It also removes the authority of the director of the Division of Labor Standards to inspect employers who employ children and to require them to keep certain records for children they employ.
It also repeals the presumption that the presence of a child in a workplace is evidence of employment.

southsiderosie

20Cent wrote: »

Here's the summary:

http://www.senate.mo.gov/11info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=4124271

Looks pretty bad to me opening the door to all kinds of abuse.
Why remove the safegards if they are already in place?
Seems like a charter for employers to exploit child labour.

I am not opposed to kids working and I did so myself (started working at summer camps when I was 14; babysat, etc), but I think this legislation is a bad idea. What is the rationale behind it? How would this in any way help the MIssouri economy?

metrovelvet

I worked at 14, didnt require a permit [13 or under did].

I am creeped out by the idea that kids can work in hotels for some reason- because hospitality seems to be exempt from all sorts of overtime rules and also because of the nature of hotels, strangers, bedrooms.

I worked through high school in the summers and on saturdays and a couple of afternoons during the week, and my school on average gave us four hours of homework a night. It meant sometimes homework got skipped. It means extra curriculars sometimes went missed, it meant no SAT prep or driving lessons on a saturday. However, that does not mean there should be laws against minors working.

Farming is an area where there should be stricter regulations and inspections.

20Cent

southsiderosie wrote: »

I am not opposed to kids working and I did so myself (started working at summer camps when I was 14; babysat, etc), but I think this legislation is a bad idea. What is the rationale behind it? How would this in any way help the MIssouri economy?

There seems to be an element in the US hell bent on dismantling all of the safety nets and regulations designed to protect people from exploitation. It doesn't have to make economic sense it is just following the ideology whatever the results.

Overheal

would they be exploited though? Arent they being exploited now? Right now if a kid wants to work they have to do it under the table, sometimes working hours for a couple dollars, no expectation of even a minimum wage, etc. and the new bill would still restrict dangerous work.

Overheal

Manic Moran wrote: »

The kid is quite likely to earn more pocket money working in a hotel for for hours on a saturday than he will selling lemonade for the same amount of time.

Speaking of child labor and lemonade:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUcpCB7Wls8