CARE Act of 2023 Children’s Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety of 2023
The bill has a broad impact on current labor laws, especially those affecting minors. Key amendments include a revision of age requirements for agricultural employment and a repeal of a waiver provision that previously permitted exceptions for certain hand-harvest laborers. The law will set higher civil fines for child labor violations, establish mandatory reporting requirements for employers concerning work-related injuries and illnesses involving minors, and mandate annual reporting to Congress on these incidents. This approach seeks to leverage data to inform future legislation and enhance workplace safety for children.
House Bill 4046, known as the Children's Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety of 2023 (CARE Act), seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 by reinforcing provisions relating to child labor, particularly for minors working in agriculture. The bill addresses significant safety concerns for children employed in potentially hazardous agricultural roles and aims to enhance their welfare through stricter regulations. There are specific provisions that increase civil penalties for employers who violate child labor laws and introduce criminal penalties for aggravated violations that result in harm to underage workers.
While the advantages of stronger child labor protections are generally viewed positively, the bill's passage is not without contention. Some stakeholders, particularly those in the agricultural sector, have raised concerns about the potential limitations the bill may impose on family farms and their ability to employ their children. Critics argue that existing exceptions for family-operated farms provide essential flexibility that the CARE Act could undermine, possibly affecting traditional farming practices. Furthermore, the enforcement of the new regulations and their implications for small farms remain hot topics of debate among lawmakers and advocacy groups.