H.R. 6066: Children’s Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety of 2025

This bill, known as the Children's Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety of 2025, aims to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 with a focus on child labor protections in the agricultural sector. Here’s a summary of the main components:

1. Targeted Child Labor Protections

The bill seeks to strengthen regulations regarding child labor in agriculture by:

• Prohibiting employment for children under 14 years old in most agricultural roles.
• Implementing stricter restrictions for children aged 14 to 17, particularly in jobs deemed hazardous.
• Revising the conditions under which 14- and 15-year-olds can work to ensure it does not interfere with their schooling or health.

2. Increased Civil Penalties

The bill proposes to increase penalties for violations of child labor laws:

• Fines of $500 to $15,000 for violations related to individual employees.
• Fines between $15,000 and $60,115 for violations leading to serious injuries or deaths of employees under 18, with increased penalties for repeat offenses.

3. Criminal Penalties for Severe Violations

For willful or repeated violations resulting in serious harm to child workers, the bill introduces possible imprisonment of up to five years for the responsible parties.

4. Reporting and Data Collection

The bill mandates:

• Annual reports to Congress on work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths involving minors in agricultural employment.
• Employers to report serious injuries, illnesses, or deaths of minors within five days to the Department of Labor.

5. Pesticide Handling Restrictions

It prohibits anyone under 18 from performing tasks categorized as pesticide handling, addressing known health dangers associated with pesticide exposure.

6. Rulemaking and Implementation

The Secretary of Labor will be required to draft and implement rules necessary for the amendments within specified timeframes after the bill’s enactment.

Relevant Companies

• CAG (ConAgra Brands, Inc.): As a major player in the agricultural and food sector, ConAgra could face increased operational costs and liability as a result of stronger child labor laws.
• HSY (The Hershey Company): As a large consumer of agricultural products, Hershey may need to adjust its supply chain practices to comply with the stricter labor regulations imposed by this bill.
• NEM (Newmont Corporation): Though primarily a mining company, any agricultural practice they engage in could be affected by these new labor restrictions.