News Release

Printer-Friendly Version

ESA News Release: [04/26/2004]
Contact Name: Dolline Hatchett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4651

U.S. Department of Labor Launches Nationwide YouthRules! Outreach Campaign

Over 6,000 Radio Stations and 10,000 Newspapers will Receive Public Service Announcements

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor has launched a nationwide outreach campaign to increase awareness about youth employment laws as part of the YouthRules! Initiative. YouthRules! promotes positive and safe work experiences for young workers by educating parents, teens, employers, and educators about the types of jobs teens can hold and the number of hours they can work.

“Early employment experiences can be very rewarding for young workers and provide great opportunities to learn useful job skills,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “But, the work that teens are hired to do shouldn’t jeopardize their health, well-being, or educational achievement. This new outreach campaign is designed to increase awareness about the resources and protections that exist to ensure teens have positive work experiences.”

Over 6,000 radio stations will receive a taped public service announcement by Secretary Chao and 10,000 newspapers will receive the new YouthRules! print ad. While there are some jobs that teens are prohibited from performing, both the radio spot and print ad focuses on the number of jobs that teens can work. For instance, teens 13 or younger can baby-sit, deliver newspapers, or work as an actor or performer. Teens who are 14- and 15-years-old may work in a variety of jobs including those located in offices, grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and amusement parks. Workers who are 16- and 17-years-old can work in any job not declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor.

The department has continued to develop partnerships with all levels of government, as well as businesses, unions, advocacy groups, and organizations that work with teens. Through these partnerships, the department provides educational materials and training to employers to promote the YouthRules! Initiative. The outreach campaign takes this effort to the next level by using a strategic media approach on a nationwide basis.

For more information about the outreach campaign, or to download the YouthRules! radio spot and print ad please visit www.dol.gov/opa/media/audio/main.htm. Information about the youth employment laws, including the jobs that are declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor, can be found at www.wagehour.dol.gov or call the Department of Labor’s toll-free hotline at 1-866-4USWAGE.

# # #

_________________________________________________________________