CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) — Labor groups across eastern Iowa are urging the state to align its child labor laws with federal standards. They argue that recent changes in Iowa’s legislation have led to violations of federal regulations, resulting in significant fines for local businesses.
The controversy stems from Iowa’s new labor laws, which permit younger teenagers to work longer hours than federal law allows. These state laws enable 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. during the school year and until 11 p.m. in the summer. In contrast, federal labor laws restrict working hours for this age group to 7 p.m. during the school year and 9 p.m. in the summer.
Jen Scheer, senior state policy coordinator for the Economic Policy Institute, emphasized the severity of the situation. “We really can’t characterize this as anything other than a crisis,” Scheer said. She pointed out that Iowa’s child labor laws, enacted last year, directly conflict with the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act. “Those provisions included in the 2023 Iowa law are in direct conflict with federal law.”
The consequences of this legal discrepancy are significant. Businesses that comply with the new state laws are being penalized for violating federal standards. For example, the owner of Sugapeach restaurant in North Liberty faces a $65,000 federal fine for adhering to the state’s regulations.
Scheer highlighted the confusion among businesses regarding which laws to follow. “For months, businesses have gotten misinformation about what standards they were supposed to follow,” she said. This uncertainty has only exacerbated the issue, leaving many employers in a precarious legal position.
Governor Kim Reynolds responded to the federal enforcement actions on July 1, describing them as excessive. However, Democratic State Representative Sami Scheetz criticized the state law for endangering children. He cited an incident from last August, where a child was reportedly working at the Banjo Block construction project, as evidence of the law’s negative impact. “The vast majority of the blame should be on Iowa Republicans and the restaurant association, who clearly understood the implications of the law,” Scheetz stated.
Scheer and other labor leaders are advocating for the repeal of Iowa’s child labor law to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Their goal is to protect children and provide clear, consistent guidelines for businesses.
As the debate continues, it remains crucial for Iowa to address these concerns and ensure that its labor laws do not put children at risk or place businesses in legal jeopardy.