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DOL to re-propose ‘parental exemption’
Public comments and concerns from members of Congress with the proposed revision to the child labor in agriculture rule published on September 2, 2011 has prompted the Department of Labor (DOL) to take a closer look at a portion of the rule.
In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday, February 1, officials with the Department of Labor explained their decision to re-propose the ‘parental exemption’ portion of the child labor in agriculture rule which has been in existence for 40 years.
“Corporate structures of farms and ownership of farms and how farms are operated has changed,” said a DOL official. “So consequently we are wanting to take advantage of all of these really amazing and important comments that we’ve received to ensure that what we do put out as final, is now informed by this really important comment process.”
The Department of Labor’s re-propose portion of the rule is expected to be published sometime this summer at which time public comments will be accepted. In the meantime the DOL will continue to review public comments already received on the remaining portions of the proposed rule.
The agency official, in the statement read to reporters, said that until the revised exemption is final, the DOL will revert to its earlier enforcement practice.
”The parental exemption to situations in which the parent or person standing in the place of a parent is a part owner of the farm, a partner in a partnership or an officer of a corporation that owns the farm if the ownership interest in the partnership or corporation is substantial. This approach is consistent with guidance the Wage and Hour Division has provided to the public on its website for the past several years.”
Audio: Department of Labor Statement (2:25 MP3)
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The thing we in agriculture have failed to point out well here, these proposed ruling changes by DOL are not just about young people on the farm. This affects my neighbors child who wants to mow my or your yard and many other urban children in other working inviornments.
Takes away some of the best workforce training the world has ever known.
In a time when many are worried the development of our children this is a step in the wrong direction.
We have failed to make this public knowledge in urban America.