Articles Tagged: U.S. Department of Labor

Lori Chavez-DeRemer tours Western Iowa Community College in Council Bluffs and Union Pacific dispatch center in Omaha.

The new federal government report suggests that the “low-hire, low-fire” job market remains in effect, with workers enjoying some job security but those out of work struggling to find new jobs.

Trump has cast the H-2A program as a quick help for farmers. At the same time, the program has been suspended during the government shutdown, which could cause production problems.

Johnson County has renewed its motion for an injunction against Hawkeye Waste because its workers’ comp insurance coverage lapsed in September. A worker was crushed by a skid loader last year and an OSHA investigation revealed the company didn’t have workers’ comp insurance, which is a violation of Iowa law.

Against the background of a dismal federal jobs report, two Iowa business group leaders on Friday said the state’s employers remain optimistic about the economy here, although they also warned against the impact of ongoing uncertainty in federal trade policy.

Mexico Lindo Grill & Cantina has locations in West Branch, Iowa City, and North Liberty.

The owner and managers of Hawkeye Waste Systems are facing a felony charge after an investigation into the 2024 death of an employee revealed the company did not have workers’ compensation insurance, which is required by Iowa law.

Corteva Agriscience, the most dominant player in the U.S. corn industry, has said it takes labor abuses in its supply chain seriously. But, it’s hired labor contractor T. Bell Detasseling, which has repeatedly run afoul of federal labor laws.

Iowa Workforce Development granted waivers to two Iowa employers to train 16- and 17-year-olds to perform hazardous work, despite federal restrictions and safety concerns, including risk of amputation.

Roundtable notes conflict between Iowa, federal regulations

Excessive restrictions get in the way of opportunities.

Iowa’s governor and all-Republican congressional delegation said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor that their offices have received “numerous reports from small business owners who have been subject to investigations and excessive penalties by the U.S. Department of Labor.”

Iowa restaurants are facing fines up to $180,000 for letting teens work longer hours than permitted under federal rules.

The Iowa Restaurant Association heralded it as a “legislative win” for its members when lawmakers relaxed rules on youth employment. Now, it's warning members to revert to following the stricter federal regulations for workers under 16.

A Tennessee-based sanitation company has agreed to pay more than half a million dollars after a federal investigation found it illegally hired at least two dozen children to clean dangerous meat processing facilities in Iowa and Virginia.