Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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DETROIT --

High schools and junior high schools in Michigan received information last week from the U.S. Department of Labor about state and federal work rules designed to keep teens safe at work and productive at school.

“Every year, young workers are injured while performing work that is prohibited for them,” said James Smith, Wage and Hour district director in Detroit. “Even one child who is seriously injured at work is one child too many. A good way to prevent such injuries is to make sure that school officials are aware of the laws that protect young workers and can alert the employer and the student if they see any dangerous duties on the work permit application that are prohibited by law for young workers.

The Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division in Detroit is mailing on YouthRules! information to 1,063 high schools and junior high schools for use by school principals and staff who issue work permits. Work permits are generally required by state law before a young worker can be employed in Michigan.

Federal laws also regulate the number of hours persons under sixteen years of age are allowed to work and the times during which they can be employed. “The intent of the hours limitations is to give our teens their best shot at preparing for their futures. They do that by doing well in school and balancing school with safe and appropriate work experiences,” he added.

YouthRules! is a public awareness campaign launched by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao designed to bring teens, parents, educators and employers together to promote safe and rewarding work experiences for young workers. The department launched a website and developed partnerships with state and federal government agencies, employer groups, trade associations and advocacy groups to promote this initiative.

For more information about YouthRules! call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4-USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or contact the local state labor department at (517) 322-1825. Information is also available on the Internet at www.youthrules.dol.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.