Iowa Faces Federal Scrutiny Over New Law on Youth Employment, Potentially Violating Child Labor Protections

iowa Youth employment child labor

By E.Baloyo , Parent Herald May 19, 11:28 pm

Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Iowa's recently passed legislation aimed at increasing youth employment opportunities has come under federal scrutiny.

The U.S. Labor Department expresses concerns that the new law may potentially violate child labor protections.

The state law, which is yet to be signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, introduces provisions that allow young individuals to work in specific industries and extend their working hours, contradicting federal regulations designed to safeguard children in the workforce.

The growing conflict between state and federal laws has brought Iowa's youth employment practices into question, attracting attention from both advocates for increased opportunities and proponents of child labor protections.

Federal Officials Allege Violation of Child Labor Protections

Federal officials from the U.S. Labor Department have raised red flags regarding Iowa's newly proposed legislation on youth employment.

According to NBC News, concerns have been raised by Seema Nanda, the Labor Department's chief lawyer, and Jessica Looman, the principal deputy administrator responsible for enforcing child labor laws, in a letter to Iowa Democratic lawmakers.

They have expressed apprehension that the recently proposed state law might encroach upon federal regulations designed to protect children in the workplace.

The officials highlighted specific provisions, such as allowing young individuals to work in laundries and engage in light assembly work without adequate machine safeguards, which are likely prohibited under federal child labor protections.

Furthermore, the legislation permits 14- and 15-year-olds to work in meat freezers, an explicit violation of federal law.

The U.S. Labor Department's emphasis on upholding child labor protections and its ongoing investigations into over 600 cases nationwide have put Iowa's new law in the spotlight.

Another aspect of Iowa's legislation that has caught the attention of federal officials is the extension of working hours for 14- and 15-year-olds during the school year. The new law permits these young individuals to work until 9 p.m., two hours beyond the federal limit of 7 p.m.

According to the letter from Labor Department officials, this provision "appears to violate" the federal rule restricting working hours for minors.

While proponents argue that the extended hours provide flexibility and increased job opportunities, opponents express concerns about the potential impact on the well-being and education of young individuals.

The clash between state and federal regulations regarding working hours has intensified the debate on the delicate balance between youth employment and child protection.

Weakening Laws on Child Labor

In the realm of youth employment laws, Iowa is not alone in its pursuit of legislative changes.

According to The Guardian, Arkansas, under the leadership of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, signed a bill in March that significantly diminishes protections against child labor. This controversial move eliminates the state's requirement to verify that children are at least 16 years old before they can be employed.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, lawmakers are deliberating on a bill that would extend the working hours for 14- and 15-year-old children year-round, allowing them to work until 9 p.m. each day.

This proposed legislation enjoys bipartisan support and includes a resolution urging the federal government to revise its child labor laws. These developments, not limited to Iowa, signal a broader trend of weakening official oversight of child labor practices across states.

As previously reported by the Associated Press, in response to a concerning surge in the illegal exploitation of migrant children for labor in the United States, the Biden administration announced on February 27 its plans to establish a dedicated task force to address this issue.

This alarming trend has seen hundreds of companies employ nearly 4,000 children last year alone, representing a significant increase over the past five years.

The situation has intensified scrutiny of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra as worries mount that migrant children are being discharged from shelters and federal custody too hastily, exposing them to vulnerable circumstances that increase their susceptibility to becoming victims of child labor.