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Child Labor Training

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Work experience can be a great benefit to teens and their employers.  From work-hour restrictions to prohibited occupations, the Bureau of Child Labor administers and enforces Indiana laws regarding the employment of teens.  The Bureau of Child Labor also offers training and educational resources to employers, managers, schools and teens on Child Labor laws and safe workplace practices.

The Bureau of Child Labor is currently scheduling free Child Labor training seminars. These seminars will cover all aspects of the employment of minors, and will be open to employers, educators, parents and minors. To learn more about training opportunities or to enroll in training, please visit our training page here.

To contact the Bureau of Child Labor, please e-mail childlabor@dol.in.gov .

Candy Crews

In most cases, it is unlawful for minors under 16 years of age to peddle goods or services door to door or approach passersby. This problem is addressed in both state and federal laws and is something that we see fairly often here in Indiana. Collquially, these mobile sales groups have come to be known as "Candy Crews."

WISH-TV 8's Adrienne Broaddus recently published a news report on this problem. The article may be found at http://www.in.gov/dol/2806.htm . The Indiana Department of Labor has also published a fact sheet on Candy Crews that can be found online at http://www.in.gov/dol/files/Youth_Peddling_Sheet_V2.pdf .

Seasonal Employment

Seasonal businesses often provide job opportunities for minors. With seasonal employment, however, comes questions regarding what hour restrictions apply, what documentation is required and what occupations minors are simply not allowed to perform.

Each season, the Indiana Department of Labor will develop a webpage to inform employers and employees of particular laws that may affect minors in these seasonal workplaces. Please see the current list of seasonal topics below:

Online Work Permit System Updates

All work permits in Indiana are now issued through accredited Hoosier schools using the Online Work Permit System.  The Indiana Department of Labor no longer produces or distributes paper work permits.

To assist in navigating the system, the Indiana Department of Labor has created several online tutorials explaining each aspect of using the online work permit system on our website.  This information may be found on our Forms and Publications page.  We have also added a section to our Frequently Asked Questions page explaining the statutory requirements, policies and procedures of issuing work permits online.

Teen Worker Safety


The Bureau of Child Labor has partnered with INSafe, Indiana's occupational safety and health consultation program, to launch the Teen Worker Safety Campaign.  This campaign focuses on providing teens, employers, educators and parents with the knowledge and resources necessary to keep minors safe in the workplace.

As part of the kick-off, the Bureau of Child Labor and INSafe have created two short training videos centered around Indiana's Child Labor laws and on the job safety.

For more information about teen labor laws and safety, please visit the Teen Worker Safety page and our Frequently Asked Questions.  We may also be reached via e-mail at childlabor@dol.in.gov .

Press releases related to the Bureau of Child Labor are available below, as well as on the Indiana Department of Labor homepage, www.in.gov/dol .

  • June 30, 2009 :
    Teen Summer Worker Safety Campaign:  Prohibited and Hazardous Occupations 
  • June 16, 2009 :
    Teen Summer Worker Safety Campaign:  Work Permits and Hour Restrictions
  • June 8, 2009 :
    Indiana Department of Labor Launches Teen Summer Safety Campaign