Iowa Governor to Sign Bill Reducing Child Labor Protections

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds plans to sign a bill that would allow children as young as 14 to work longer hours and take jobs that had been prohibited, including roofing, construction, and demolition. The legislation eliminates state regulations on the number of hours 16- and 17-year-olds can work and allows them to serve alcohol in restaurants with parental permission. Opponents of the bill argue that it will put children in dangerous occupations at a young age and stunt their educational development, while supporters see it as a potential solution to workforce shortages and rising labor costs.