Hunter
06/17/24
The Iowa Restaurant Association is warning its members that federal officials are taking action against restaurants that follow Iowa’s new child labor law.
The website Bleeding Heartland reports that Association president Jessica Dunker believes the enforcement actions could literally put people out of business.
Restaurant Association leaders successfully lobbied the state legislature to relax youth employment rules in 2023, despite warnings from US Labor officials that they would vigorously enforce child labor protections. They said violators could face sanctions and/or fines.
The bill included provisions that would allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work later on school nights and during the summer; allow some underage workers to obtain a driver’s license to drive to and from a job; and allow 16- and 17-year-olds to take and deliver alcohol orders at restaurants.
The Restaurant Association began warning members late last month that the US Department of Labor was out in full force and taking punitive actions against violators.
Dunker told the Des Moines Register she believes the feds are targeting Iowa, her association and its members. She also claimed that no other state that have relaxed child labor laws is experiencing these random checks.
A spokesperson from the US Department of Labor said that they have done several investigations resulting in child labor violations in Iowa, but they conducted over 4500 visits last year across the nation to find violators and stop them.