Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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BOSTON -- As the summer months approach and more young workers enter the job market, teens, parents and employers should be aware of the laws that apply to youth. Consistent with the Department of Labor's "YouthRules!" campaign to help youth work safely and legally, the U.S. Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division offers the following quick guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor provisions.

May work outside of school hours; between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except between June 1 and Labor Day when the evening hours are extended to 9 p.m.); up to three hours a day on school days; up to 18 hours total in a school week; up to eight hours a day on non-school days, and up to 40 hours total in a non-school week.

Youths age 14 and 15:

• May work in a variety of job settings, including: offices, grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants, gasoline service stations, amusement parks and movie theatres. However, they may not work in the following occupations: construction, manufacturing, mining, communications and public utilities, warehousing and storage, processing occupations, public messenger service, most cooking occupations, transportation, operating power grass cutting machinery and any occupation declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor (examples listed below).
• May work outside of school hours; between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except between June 1 and Labor Day when the evening hours are extended to 9 p.m.); up to three hours a day on school days; up to 18 hours total in a school week; up to eight hours a day on non-school days, and up to 40 hours total in a non-school week.

Youths age 16 and 17:

• Have no restrictions related to hours they may work.
• Are prohibited from working in 17 occupations declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. Some of the more common of these are: motor vehicle operation, power-driven meat slicers, scrap paper balers and cardboard box compactors, power-driven woodworking machines, power-driven hoisting apparatus, power-driven bakery machinery, power-driven circular saws, band saws, roofing operations, and excavation operations.

Through the YouthRules! initiative, the Labor Department seeks to promote positive and safe work experiences for young workers. The YouthRules! web page and activities will educate teens, parents, educators, employers and the public on federal and state rules regarding young workers - the hours youth can work, and the jobs they can do. The initiative will also help teens and employers work together to ensure safe work experiences.

For more information, contact the Wage and Hour Division's toll-free number 1-866-487-9243 or visit the YouthRules! website 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.