Child Labor Laws in Iowa

The Department of Inspections, Appeals, & Licensing (DIAL) is responsible for enforcing child labor laws in the state of Iowa. It has established a legal framework for employing younger teens in the state and protecting their interests and well-being at every stage, and ensuring employment does not hamper their education. 

Iowa’s child labor laws clearly define minimum working age, the requirement of a work permit for younger teens, hour and time of day restrictions, and occupations that are prohibited for teens to work in. Recent updates to Iowa’s laws have relaxed some restrictions, especially for older teens. However, employers must still comply with both state and federal laws and always adhere to the stricter provisions. 

How the State Regulates Child Labor

Iowa has set a series of frameworks to govern youth employment across the state. These are as follows:

• Minimum Age: Iowa has set a general minimum working age for most employment types at 14 years, with some exceptions for teens younger than 14 years. 
• Work Permits: Minors under 16 years must obtain a state-issued work permit before starting employment.
• Hour Restrictions: The law defines specific maximum daily and weekly hours along with time-of-day curfews, especially for minors aged 14 and 15.
• Hazardous Occupations: Both the Iowa and the federal government identify some jobs and tasks as dangerous for minors to perform, and hence, have restricted employers from employing younger teens in these occupations.  

Relation to Federal Law

While the state laws work in tandem with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the two differ from one another in some cases. Employers in Iowa must follow both state and federal laws, and apply stricter rules when the two differ. 

This has been a point of emphasis. The recent state law updates conflicted with stricter federal rules, causing some businesses to face fines that adhered to the state laws. For instance, the federal FLSA limits 14- and 15-year-olds to work only for 3 hours on a school day and sets a 7:00 PM curfew. This is more restrictive than the state law. In such a case, employers must follow the federal standard.

Minimum Working Age in Iowa

In general, the minimum working age in Iowa for most non-agricultural jobs is 14 years. However, the state has made some exceptions for teens younger than 14 to get employed. These exceptions include:

• Delivering newspapers
• Working as a casual farm laborer
• Working in a parent-owned business (with some restrictions)
• Acting or performing in the entertainment industry

Work Permits for Minors in Iowa

Work permits can either be obtained at the school your child attends or through the Iowa Workforce Development Center, call 319-365-9474, or visit their location on the Lower Level of Lindale Mall:

According to the state laws, minors aged 14 and 15 must obtain a work permit from the Iowa Workforce Development Center before legally starting employment. Meanwhile, minors aged 16 and 17 do not need a work permit. 

The process of obtaining a work permit is as follows:

• The minor can obtain a work permit form from their school or directly through the Iowa Workforce Development Center’s website. 
• The minor must fill out the forms and ask their parent/guardian and the employer to complete the necessary form details and the work permit application.
• The minor must then submit the form along with age proof to their principal’s office or to IWDC. 
• After authenticating the details, the authorized personnel will issue a work permit to the minor. 

Note: The employer must maintain a copy of the minor’s work permit along with proof of age for compliance and inspection purposes.  

Hour Restrictions for Minors in Iowa

In Iowa, work hour restrictions only apply to 14 and 15-year-olds. 

For Minors Aged 14 and 15:

• During the School Year (stricter federal rules apply):
  • A maximum of 3 hours on a school day or 18 hours in a school week
  • Must only work between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM
  • Must not work during school hours.
• During Summer Vacation (June 1 to Labor Day):
  • A maximum of 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week
  • Must work only between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM.

For Minors Aged 16 and 17:

• Neither the state nor federal laws have any provisions defining the number of hours and time of day that 16- and 17-year-olds may work.

Note: All minors under 18 years of age must receive a 30-minute break if they work for five consecutive hours. They must also be given a meal break at regular intervals.

Prohibited Jobs for Minors in Iowa

Both Iowa and federal laws prohibit minors from working a wide range of dangerous occupations. These are as follows: 

Penalties for Non-Compliance

According to the recently updated state laws, Iowa has lowered the penalties for some violations. However, federal penalties remain the same.  

• Parental Liabilities: The legal obligation or liability lies with the employer. However, in some cases where minors are employed by their parents and are required to be present while the child is working, this rule has been removed. Some critics argue that this could create risk.
• Employer Penalties:

• • State Penalties: According to the new rules, civil penalties for violations of work hour restrictions have been capped at $2,500 per instance. This has been brought down from the previous maximum of $10,000.
  • Federal Penalties: The U.S. Department of Labor can impose separate civil penalties for violations of the FLSA. These are much larger and can reach as high as $180,000 for some Iowa businesses, especially for overtime violations that conflict with the stricter FLSA standards.

HR Notifications and Documentations

All organizations must maintain proper records and comply with child labor laws in Kentucky.