Hunter
05/18/23
A proposed change in Iowa’s child labor laws conflict with federal workforce regulations.
The Gazette reports a May 10th letter from the US Department of Labor spawned from an inquiry letter sent by multiple state Democrats.
The legislation, which Governor Kim Reynolds has yet to sign, would allow children to participate in some work activities that are currently prohibited, grant exemptions to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to participate in work-based learning programs, and would allow them to work longer hours.
The US Department of Labor letter was signed by the federal labor department’s Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda, and Wage and Hour Division Principal Deputy Administrator Jessica Looman. It says Iowa’s bill has at least four provisions that create labor standards for Iowa children that are lower than federal standards. It states, “The Fair Labor Standards Act establishes federal standards with respect to child labor, and states cannot nullify federal requirements by enacting less protective standards.”
State Republicans say many youth labor regulations in Iowa and other states already are not in sync with federal regulations, and the Department of Labor letter addresses language no longer in the bill.
Governor Reynolds has until June 2nd to sign the bill into law.