U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is reproposing the section of its regulation on agricultural child labor that interprets the parental exemption detail. The agency reports the added review will help ensure the protection of children and rural values. DOL says, "The parental exemption allows children of any age who are
employed by their parent, or a person standing in the place of a
parent, to perform any job on a farm owned or operated by their parent
or such person standing in the place of a parent." The exemption was created in 1966 along with the expanded protection for children employed in jobs that DOL deemed as hazardous for kids under the age of 16. "The re-proposal process will seek comments and inputs as to how the department can comply with statutory requirements to protect children, while respecting rural traditions," DOL says.
Public comments on the reproposal process are welcome, and DOL reports it should be published for public comment by early summer.
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