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Labor Department rethinks controversial youth labor rules

The U.S. Labor Department will re-propose this summer the portion of its regulation on child labor in agriculture interpreting the “parental exemption.”
Compiled by staff 
Published: Feb 1, 2012
Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today applauded the U.S. Department of Labor’s move to go back to the drawing board on a controversial farm labor rule that would have prevented many young people from working on family farms.
 
After the Department first proposed the new rule, Senator Stabenow encouraged the Department to reconsider and solicit public input before making any new changes to the “parental exemption” of its rule related to child labor in agriculture. Today the Department agreed with Senator Stabenow, stopping its plans to implement the new rules and agreeing to open a new dialogue with family farmers on the issue. 

“I am glad the Department of Labor heard my concerns and the concerns of so many families in Michigan and decided to re-evaluate this rule. I was concerned when I learned about the proposed rules and urged the Department to have more conversations with farm families and listen to their views before making any new rules," Stabenow said.  

Sen. Stabenow argued that prohibiting youth from working on family farms could have far-reaching effects on youth education programs like 4-H, family farms and rural communities. Following Sen. Stabenow’s request, and strong opposition from family farmers, the Department of Labor will now seek public comments before re-drafting the rule. According to the Department, a new “parental exemption” rule is expected to be proposed this summer.




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