Amish Exemption to Child Labor Laws

Learn about the Amish exemption

What's wrong with sawmills and woodworking?
What are the current protections?
What is the proposed exemption?
What is the status of the bills?

Why current child labor laws prohibit employment within sawmills and woodworking establishments

Sawmills:

Ranking of industry for occupational non-fatal injuries:  Within the top 10 percent of occupations for occupational injuries.  (77th out of 734 industries)

12.9 employees out of 100 reported a recordable injury in 1999.

(source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Woodworking:

Ranking of industry for occupational non-fatal injuries:  Within the top 4 percent of occupations for occupational injuries.  (32nd out of 734 industries)

14.8 employees out of 100 reported a recordable injury in 1999.

(source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics)

 

Current Protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act

All operations in sawmills are prohibited for minors under age 18.  Minors under age 18 may not work in or about the sawmill, or any work that entails entering the sawmill building.  Minors may work only in a separate administrative office area.

All operations (including operating, supervising or controlling the operation of such machines, feeding material into such machines, and helping the operator to feed material into such machines, repairing, oiling, or cleaning machines) of power-driven woodworking machines are prohibited for minors under age 18.  Limited exemptions are provided for apprenticeship programs and student-learner programs where the actual work in the occupation is incidental to this training and such work is intermittent and for short periods of time and is under direct and close adult supervision.

 

Proposed Amendment

Allows Amish youth age 14 and older to work in sawmills and woodworking shops.  The youth will not operate any machinery, but, for the first time, will be allowed to work in the building or structures where sawmilling and woodworking are being conducted.  To see the entire bill, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type in either H.R. 1943 or S. 974.

 

Status of the Amish Bills

S. 974

Sponsor:  Senator Arlen Specter (PA)

 

H.R. 1943

Sponsor:  Joseph Pitts (PA – 16th District)

H.R. 2673 -- Omnibus Appropriations Legislation
12/03 Language from H.R. 1943 was included in this seven-bill, $820 billion legislation. H.R. 2673 has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
1//22/04 Bill passed in the U.S. Senate
1/23/04 Signed by President Bush

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