It’s not uncommon for children in the US to do small jobs to pay for their weekly expenses or save for college. But a recent raft of state legislation aimed at weakening child labor regulations has raised concerns about something more sinister at play: the filling of a gap in the US labor market with cheaper, and more easily exploitable, underaged workers at the expense of their educational opportunities.
Iowa is the latest state to take aim at child labor protections, enacting one of the most significant roll backs to date. In late May, governor Kim Reynolds signed a law that expanded the permitted working hours and places of employment for teens as young as 14 years old. Iowa’s bill, which violates federal law (pdf) according to the Department of Labor, went into effect on July 1.
The bill allows adolescents to participate in activities usually deemed inappropriate or dangerous for minors, such as serving alcohol, working in one of the state’s 200-plus meatpacking plants, operating heavy machinery, or joining demolition projects, among other provisions. Many are jobs that federal law has historically prohibited to those under the age of 18.
Advocates for child labor protections have warned that these developments could have grave consequences. “State bills to weaken child labor protections are a huge concern,” said Reid Maki, a director at the Child Labor Coalition, in a statement to Quartz. “We know from academic research that if teens work more than 20 hours during the...
Weather Alert Tornado Watch: Benton County, Carroll County, Decatur County, Henry County Clarksville clinic agrees to False Claims Act settlement Clarksville clinic agrees to False Claims Act sett...