Controversial Iowa Child Labor Bill Passes Senate and Heads to House

The Iowa state senate has passed a bill that would allow children to work longer hours and serve alcohol, in an effort to combat a labor shortage by loosening child labor laws. The bill would expand the number of hours that children under 16 can work from four to six a day, allow minors to work in previously prohibited industries if they are part of a training program, and allow 16- and 17-year–olds to serve alcohol with a parent’s permission. Democrats and labor advocates have decried the bill, which they say will endanger children by allowing them to work in dangerous fields such as roofing, excavation and demolition.