The fine for businesses that violate Iowa’s child labor laws by having teens work too many hours or work too late at night have been lowered. The penalty had been $10,000, but has been lowered to $2,500 for having a teenager work beyond the allowed time limits in state law. Mitchell Mahan, an attorney with the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, says $10,000 is the maximum amount for any child labor violation, including a worksite fatality if the employee is under 18.
Peter Hird of the Iowa Federation of Labor says it’s the wrong approach to enforcing child labor limits.
Governor Reynolds signed child labor changes into law in 2023 to allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work up to six hours on a school day and ’til 9 p.m. on school nights or until 11 p.m. during the summer. Iowa law also allows children of any age to work at a business owned by their family. Under a rule change that took effect this week, a parent no longer has to be present when their child works at the family’s business.
