Republican Senator Chip Perfect’s Senate Bill 342 would remove work permit requirements and working time restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds in Indiana.

Federal child labour laws, which generally apply to under-16s only, would remain intact.

Critics have pointed out that Senator Perfect is the CEO of Perfect North Slopes, a company which employs between 300 and 400 16- and 17-year-olds, The Indianapolis Star reports.

At present, 16-year-old students in Indiana aren’t allowed to work past 10pm or more than 30 hours per school week (40 hours per non-school week) unless they have parental permission. Employers are also required to give 30-minute breaks to under-18s for every six hours they work.

Rob Henderson, executive director of Indiana State AFL-CIO, told the Star: “All of these Indiana-specific laws were passed for a reason. Just undoing them … I don’t understand the intent, other than just trying to be able to work minors more hours.”