The Department of Labor (DOL) announced it was dropping its proposed rule regarding youth and farm work.  Instead, it will work with farm and agricultural organizations for better education to reduce accidents by farm youth. 

P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

April 30, 2012

1 Min Read
Proposed Farm Youth Labor Rule Dropped

 

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced it was dropping its proposed rule regarding youth and farm work.  Instead, it will work with farm and agricultural organizations for better education to reduce accidents by farm youth.  DOL said, “As a result, the Department of Labor is announcing today the withdrawal of the proposed rule dealing with children under the age of 16 who work in agricultural vocations. The decision to withdraw this rule, including provisions to define the 'parental exemption,' was made in response to thousands of comments expressing concerns about the effect of the proposed rules on small family-owned farms. To be clear, this regulation will not be pursued for the duration of the Obama administration.  Instead, the Departments of Labor and Agriculture will work with rural stakeholders, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, the Future Farmers of America and 4-H to develop an educational program to reduce accidents to young workers and promote safer agricultural working practices."

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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