WV lawmakers consider bill to loosen child labor rules

By Nadia Ramlagan 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia lawmakers are weighing a proposal that would roll back several long‑standing protections for working minors, prompting concern from child‑advocacy and labor‑policy experts. House Bill 4005, which has cleared the House Government Organization Committee, would loosen state rules governing hazardous occupations and reduce oversight requirements for youth working in high‑risk environments.
The state already operates a Youth Apprenticeship Program that allows 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds to gain workforce experience under structured safeguards. Critics say HB 4005 would move in the opposite direction by eliminating state‑defined categories of dangerous jobs and removing requirements for direct supervision when minors work around hazardous machinery.
Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, warned that the changes could put young workers at greater risk.
“The concern, of course, is that by eliminating state categories of barred occupations, by weakening the guardrails and parameters around children working in industries that can be more dangerous, it would result in more injuries for children,” Allen said.
Federal data shows more than 4,000 children nationwide were employed in violation of child labor laws in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Allen said West Virginia can expand opportunities for youth without dismantling safety standards. She noted that the state’s Commissioner of Labor already has the authority to grant exemptions for specific apprenticeship programs when appropriate.
“There are ways to make sure these apprenticeships maintain those rigorous and safe conditions without completely eliminating large sections from our state’s code for child labor,” she said.
The bill now heads to the full House of Delegates for consideration. In recent years, West Virginia has invested in expanding youth apprenticeship and on‑the‑job training opportunities through its Apprenticeship in Motion program.