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DOL Withdraws Proposed Child Labor Rules on Farms

AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL -- APRIL 27, 2012 -- On Thursday, April 26, the Obama Administration announced its plans to withdraw a Department of Labor (DOL) proposed child labor rule applicable to agriculture.

AMERICAN HORSE COUNCIL — APRIL 27, 2012 — On Thursday, April 26, the Obama Administration announced its plans to withdraw a Department of Labor (DOL) proposed child labor rule applicable to agriculture. The proposed rule would have severely limited the ability of young people to work on farms and ranches. The AHC along with other agricultural organizations had opposed the rule and is pleased the administration responded to the concerns of the agricultural community.

The proposed rule would have placed new limitations on the ability of young people to work for pay on farms or ranches not owned solely by their parents and would have effectively barred workers under 16 from working in most capacities in agriculture, especially around livestock, such as horses.

In November 2011, the AHC submitted comments opposing the rule.

Additionally, the AHC has been working with a broad coalition of agricultural organizations to convince the Administration and Congress that these rules were ill-considered, would prevent young people from becoming involved in agriculture, and would negatively impact family farms and ranches.

The Administration said it was withdrawing the proposed rule based on the concerns of the agricultural community and would not re-propose any new regulations on this issue. Instead of undertaking a new rulemaking process, the Administration said it will “work with rural stakeholders to develop an educational program to reduce accidents to young workers and promote safer agricultural working practices.”

If you have any questions please contact the AHC.

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