Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale released the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 436 to eliminate work permits for 14- and 15- year old kids in Wisconsin:
“Yesterday, the Wisconsin Legislature adopted a dangerous bill to eliminate work permits for 14- and 15- year old kids. Child labor safeguards are in place to protect the life, health, safety and welfare of children. Troubling attacks on child labor law are happening in Wisconsin and in states across the country despite a rise in teens harmed at work and working in hazardous and/or illegal jobs.
Child work permits play and have played an essential role in protecting Wisconsin kids for over 100 years. The permit process provides the Department of Workforce Development enforcement office with essential information, such as how many 14- and 15 year-olds are working, where they are working, and what job tasks they are performing. It gives parents the ability to sign off on employment for their child and receive key information about their child’s working conditions. The small $10 employer-paid work permit is the current funding mechanism for the enforcement of child labor regulations in Wisconsin.
We know the value of work to young people is important to developing a positive work ethic and needed job skills. By eliminating the work permit process for kids, Wisconsin legislators have made our workplaces less safe for children and eroded parental rights and involvement.”
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