President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named fast-food executive Andy Puzder as his choice for labor secretary.

Mr. Puzder, chief executive of CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc., the parent company of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s burger chains, has been a vocal advocate for cutting back regulations he says have stifled growth in the restaurant industry, which represents 10% of the American workforce.

An adviser and contributor to Mr. Trump’s campaign, Mr. Puzder has criticized the Affordable Care Act and argued against raising the federal minimum wage higher than $9 an hour. Democrats have called for raising the federal minimum wage to as high as $15, alongside union groups that have waged a campaign to push pay floors higher at the state, local and federal levels.

In a statement, Mr. Trump said Mr. Puzder “will fight to make American workers safer and more prosperous,” and also “save small businesses from the crushing burdens of unnecessary regulations that are stunting job growth and suppressing wages.”

Mr. Puzder said: “The president-elect believes, as do I, that the right government policies can result in more jobs and better wages for the American worker.”