Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
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Child Labor
The federal child labor provisions, authorized by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, also known as the child labor laws, were enacted to ensure that when young people work, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities. These provisions also provide limited exemptions.
On October 31, 2011, The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has published a notice to extend the comment period on the notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the child labor regulations for young workers employed in agriculture. Because of requests received to extend the period for filing public comments and the Department’s desire to obtain as much information about its proposals as possible, the comment period has been extended to December 1, 2011. Proposed Rule Website.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has published a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the child labor regulations issued pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act which sets forth the criteria for the employment of minors years of age in agriculture. The Department's proposed revisions include implementing specific recommendations made by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, increasing parity between the agricultural and nonagricultural child labor provisions, and also addressing other areas that can be improved, which were identified by the Department’s own enforcement actions. Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on the proposed rule on or before November 1, 2011 at www.regulations.gov. (September 2, 2011) Proposed Rule Website.
The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published a Final Rule designed to protect working children from hazards in the workplace while also recognizing the value of safe work to children and their families. The Final Rule contains the most ambitious and far-reaching revisions to the child labor regulations in the last thirty years and marks another step forward in the Department’s ongoing effort to promote positive, safe work experiences for young workers. The provisions of the Final Rule will become effective on July 19, 2010. View a fact sheet on the current rule, hazardous occupations side-by-side comparison of new final rule and current rule, and Reg. 3 side-by-side comparison of new rule and current rule.
- YouthRules! — Describes the requirements of the child labor laws as they relate to teens, parents, educators and employers.
- Child Labor Bulletin No. 101 — Describes the occupational requirements for nonagricultural employment.
- Child Labor Bulletin No. 102 — Describes the occupational and hours limitiations for agricultural employment for minors.
- State Child Labor Laws — Links to state employment laws which also regulate the employment of young workers.
- Amusement Parks (PDF) — Provides the child labor requirements for child labor in amusement parks and recreational establishments.
- Cooking and Baking (PDF) — Information concerning cooking and baking activities under the federal child labor provisions.
- Driving Automobiles and Trucks (PDF) — General information concerning the application for the federal provisions for driving motor vehicles.
- Teen Driving (PDF) — Explains the child labor requirements for minors to operate motor vehicles.
- Employing Youth In Restaurants (PDF) — Provides general information concerning the application to child labor in restaurants and quick service establishments.
- Farm Jobs (PDF) —Answers questions concerning child labor in agriculture.
- Grocery Stores (PDF) — Provides general information concerning child labor in super markets and grocery stores.
- Spanish Version (PDF)
- Health Care (PDF) — Information concerning employing young workers in the health care industry.
- Lifeguards (PDF) — Requirements for child labor under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Nonagricultural Occupations (PDF) — General information concerning employment in non-agricultural occupations.
- Spanish Version
- Chinese Version (PDF)
- Korean Version (PDF)
- Thai Version (PDF)
- Vietnamese Version (PDF)
- Power-Driven Balers and Compactors (PDF) — General information concerning child labor as it relates to loading, unloading and operation of scrap paper balers and paper box compactors.
- Recreation Establishments (PDF) —Provides the child labor requirements for child labor in amusement parks and recreational establishments.
- Roofing and work on or about a roof (PDF) — Provides information on the employment of minors in roofing activities and on roofs.
- Visits to Employers (PDF) — Provides general information about Wage and Hour Investigations.
- Wood Processing Industries (PDF) — Preliminary guidance concerning changes under the FLSA that impact employment of minors exempt from compulsory school attendance laws in businesses where machine process wood products.
- elaws — Child Labor Rules — Provides guidelines for the employment of workers under the age of 18 in nonagricultural occupations.
- Employer Self Assessment Tool for Child Labor — Assists employers comply with the child labor provisions by providing guidance for employers to evaluate their level of compliance.
- Posters, Stickers & Bookmarks Provides access to the posters, stickers and bookmarks designed for child labor.
- Opinion Letters
- Field Operations Handbook
- Chapter 33 — Child Labor (PDF)
Applicable Laws and Regulations
- Law
- The FLSA — Establishes the child labor provisions for the employment of young workers.
- Regulations
- 29 CFR Part 570 — Regulations of the child labor provisions under the FLSA.
- NIOSH Report on the Operation of Power-Driven Patient/Resident Hoist/Lifts by 16-and 17-Year-Olds
Child Labor CMP Assessment Amounts
- Initial Civil Money Penalty Assessment Amounts by Violation (Non-Agriculture) As per 29 CFR § 579.5 (PDF)
- Initial Civil Money Penalty Assessment Amounts by Violation (Agriculture) As Per 29 CFR § 579.5 (PDF)
