Workplace Laws and Requirements
Child Labor Laws
Filing a Child Labor Complaint
Information for Parents and Employers
Resources for Teen Workers
Filing a Child Labor Complaint
If you think that an employer is in violation of
the Child Labor Laws, you can telephone or write to the Office
of Employment Standards in Topeka, Kansas. This office will then
conduct an investigation of the complaint or we will refer it
to the Federal Wage and Hour office for action.
Kansas Department of Labor
Employment Standards
401 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 296-4062
Back to Top
Information for Parents and Employers
Disclaimer: The following information is not legal advice. If you need legal
advice, you should consult an attorney.
Q. How old does a child have to be in order
to work?
| A. Generally, children must be at least fourteen (14) years of
age in order to work. However, there are some exceptions to this. |
Q. Are there any exceptions to this?
| A. Yes. Exceptions include but are nort limited to: children employed by their
parents, household chores, paper routes, farm work and child actors/actresses. |
Q. Is a work permit required?
| A. The state of Kansas requires work permits for children
under the age of sixteen (16) who are not enrolled in or attending
secondary school. |
Q. What hours can children work?
| A. This depends on the child's age. Under the Fair
Labor Standards Act, children under sixteen (16) can work between
7 a.m. and 7 p.m.,
except from June 1 through Labor Day, when evening hours are extended
to 9 p.m. If the employer is not covered by the Fair Labor Standards
Act, the hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. when school is in session.
Most employers are covered by the Fair Labor Standards
Act. |
Q. How many hours can children work?
| A. This also depends on the child's age. Children under
sixteen (16) can work up to 3 hours on a school day, 18 hours
in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day, 40 hours on a non-school
week. If the employer is not covered by the Fair Labor Standards
Act, the children under sixteen (16) may not work more than eight
(8) hours in one day, nor more than forty (40) hours in one week. |
Q. Are there limits on what children can do
when working?
| A. Yes. Children under the age of eighteen (18) are
not allowed to work in hazardous occupations. Hazardous occupations
under Kansas law are the same as they are under Federal law. The
U.S. Department of Labor has a
list of prohibited jobs.
In addition to this, Kansas law further restricts
the occupations of children under the age of sixteen (16). Kansas
Administrative Regulations 49-1-69 lists jobs they can do
and 49-1-70 lists jobs
they cannot do.
|
Q. Can children work during school hours?
| A. No. All children under the age of 18 who have not
yet graduated from high school or received a GED must attend school.
Children who are 16 or 17 must remain in school unless they have
parental consent. Children under the age of 16 are also prohibited
from working during school hours under both state and federal
law. |
For more information, e-mail EmploymentStandards@dol.ks.gov or contact us at:
Kansas Department of Labor
Employment Standards
401 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 296-4062
Back to Top
|
