Minneapolis restaurateurs and city council members clash over a proposed labor standards board

Minneapolis restaurateurs and city council members clash over a proposed labor standards board that could soon change the business citywide.

Celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern hosted a panel of business owners inside Hai Hai's restaurant Wednesday, who have concerns about the potential regulation.

This after 120 restaurants, many immigrant-owned, wrote a letter to the city council opposing the board. Stating it would cut into their already thin bottom line.

Hai Hai's owner Christina Nguyen says the new proposal from the city council stands to push struggling businesses over the edge.

"With so much unpredictability, just with regulations and different things happening in the city," Says Nguyen, " I'm just worried that it's going to be a death by a thousand paper cuts."

Owner of Nixta and Oro Gustavo Romero echoing those concerns saying right now he doesn't trust the city council to look out for business that are following the rules.

"That is the biggest problem," Says Romero, "Unfortunately if you're not with them, you're against them."

The board claims there's is a need for the board after a rising call for unions in kitchens across the city.

But restaurateurs like Lina Goh argue its just an excuse for the council to micro manage businesses and that there is a great deal of intimidation around the issue.

"I would say, talk to the employers, talk to the restaurant owners, listen to their stories," Says Goh, " and really hear whether it is true and find the truth out there. I don't know that's all I want to say. Yes, I'm scared to say it."

Business owners say right now its unclear if the city is really out to squash wrongdoings in the workplace or if their simply finding a new way to control restaurateurs.

City leaders will decide whether to create a new board in the coming weeks.