Michigan House Bill Would Eliminate Youth Work Permit System
Michigan House Bill 5727 would scrap the state’s new youth work permit system in favor of employer-managed age verification, raising concerns about child worker protections.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — A new Michigan House bill aims to eliminate the state’s youth work permit system before it can be implemented, according to the Michigan League for Public Policy, which raised concerns about the proposal’s potential impact on young workers.
House Bill 5727 seeks to replace Michigan’s comprehensive youth work permit system with what critics describe as a weaker age verification process that would rely primarily on employers for implementation. The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity was scheduled to implement the work permit system this year.
Work Permit System Benefits
Research shows states with work permit requirements experience 17 percent fewer child labor violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act and 43 percent fewer children involved in those violations. Michigan is one of 35 states in the United States that already have work permit systems.
The current system was designed to ensure employers understand legal requirements, protect children from exploitative work conditions, and aid enforcement when violations of the state’s Youth Employment Standards Act occur.
Educational Impact Concerns
The proposed legislation would eliminate the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s ability to revoke work permits when students are not maintaining good academic standing due to employment obligations. This change would reduce schools’ capacity to address chronic absenteeism, failing grades, and disciplinary issues related to student employment.
The timing of the proposal coincides with Michigan’s continued struggles in education rankings. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released Monday, Michigan ranks 42nd nationally in education, placing it among the bottom 10 states.
Graduation Rate Data
The latest national KIDS COUNT data reveals that 17 percent of Michigan high school students did not graduate on time in 2024. While this represents an improvement from 2019 levels, the rate remains higher than the national average.
The Michigan League for Public Policy argues that centralized work permit systems benefit employers who want to comply with regulations by providing proactive information about rules governing the employment of workers under age 18.
HB 5727 would essentially leave age verification and compliance monitoring to individual employers rather than maintaining state oversight through the comprehensive permit system. Advocates contend this approach provides insufficient protection for young workers beyond basic age verification.
The proposed changes would affect Michigan’s implementation of enhanced protections for youth workers at a time when child labor violations have drawn increased attention nationwide. The existing Youth Employment Standards Act establishes specific requirements for employers hiring minors, including restrictions on working hours and hazardous occupations.
