The Labor Department’s announcement to reconsider the ‘parental exemption’ regulations in its proposed child labor rule is good news for Oklahoma farm families, according to Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling.
“I’m really thankful the DOL is taking into account our comments to take another look at their proposal,” Spradling said.
The DOL received thousands of complaints from the agriculture industry after it announced plans last fall to propose strict, new child labor guidelines on the farm. The agency now says it will take more time to reconsider the parental exemption and hear comments from the public.
“Farm Bureau members have made it clear the DOL proposal was wrong and we’re glad the DOL listened to our concerns,” Spradling said.
The Sand Springs rancher said the proposal could have impacted agriculture’s future.
“If we are to prosper in the future, we need the younger generation to understand agriculture production and having these young people work on the farm fosters that appreciation needed for them to pursue an agricultural career,” Spradling said.
OFB and other advocates of agriculture are pleased with the DOL’s decision to reconsider its rule changes, but the ag industry’s campaign to preserve family work on the farm will continue. The DOL is promising to establish a dialogue with agriculture as it reworks a child labor proposal.
“We’ll continue to watch the issue and we look forward to discussing rule changes with the DOL,” Spradling said.
