Iowa governor signs bill loosening child labor laws – By Scott McFetridge and Hannah Fingerhut (Associated Press) / May 26, 2023
Iowa teenagers could work more jobs and for longer hours under a bill signed into law Friday by Gov. Kim Reynolds
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa teenagers could work more jobs and for longer hours under a bill signed into law Friday by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The Republican governor signed the law after it was approved by the Legislature earlier in May with only Republican support. Several states are embracing a rollback of child labor laws in response to complaints from business owners that they can’t find enough workers. Iowa’s April unemployment rate was 2.7%.
“With this legislation Iowa joins 20 other states in providing tailored, common sense labor provisions that allow young adults to develop their skills in the workforce,” Reynolds said in a statement.
Child welfare advocates worry the measures represent a coordinated push to scale back hard-won protections for minors.
