Youth Worker Protection Act

The Youth Worker Protection Act (H.R. 2870) proposes to strengthen federal child labor laws by establishing stricter safety standards and more rigorous oversight for minors in the workforce. The bill would require work permits for minors, limit the hours they can work during the school year, and mandate the reporting of serious work-related injuries to state agencies.

For families and young workers, this legislation would mean more uniform protections across different industries, specifically by raising the minimum age for agricultural work to match other sectors and banning minors from high-risk tasks like seafood processing or operating heavy machinery. Additionally, the bill increases transparency by requiring the public disclosure of employers who violate child labor laws and allows for civil legal action in cases where a minor suffers a work-related illness, injury, or death.