Bruce Braley

Bruce Braley

Charges of state child labor law violations at Agriprocessors have prompted a member of Iowa’s congressional delegation to propose new federal legislation that would increase penalties against offending companies.

“Yesterday’s charges against Agriprocessors emphasize the need to protect children against unsafe and illegal working conditions,” said U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley. “When employers purposefully break the law by hiring children for dangerous jobs, they put our children’s lives and safety at risk. The current, low federal penalties must be increased to deter future child labor violations.”

Tuesday morning Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed documents in Allamakee County against Agriprocessors, a kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, charging the company and five individuals with more than 9,000 violations of state child labor laws. The U.S. Department of Labor is also conducting an ongoing investigation of Agriprocessors for similar federal violations.

The bill, introduced today by Braley, a Democrat repesenting Iowa’s 1st District, has been dubbed the Child Labor Safety Act. Under current federal law, employers who hire children for hazardous occupations face a maximum criminal fine of $10,000 and a maximum civil fine of $11,000 to $50,000. Employers who knowingly hire children for dangerous occupations are not eligible for jail time on a first offense.

Braley’s proposed legislation would increase the maximum federal penalty to $50,000 and the maximum civil penalty to $50,000 to $100,000. First offenders, under the bill, would also be eligible for up to six months in jail per employee.

It is unclear if this bill, even if passed before the federal investigation of Agriprocessors was completed, would impact the penalties associated with any alleged charges.