Child labor laws vary from state to state. Please contact your state labor department for this information. Q: I am a miner and I live in Pennsylvania; However, I will be working in another state. Where can I get a work permit? A: The student needs a work permit from the state where they will be working. The student should contact the school district where the employer is located in that state. The working hours of minors depend on their age, the type of work and the minor`s school attendance. New York State has one of the strictest child labor laws in the country. The law limits the number of hours minors under the age of 18 may work during school hours. To work between 10 p.m.
and midnight one day before a school day, 16- and 17-year-olds need written permission from a parent or guardian and a satisfactory certificate of educational status from their school. Federal legislation restricts the employment of 14- and 15-year-olds in enterprises engaged in interstate commerce to: The law prohibits minors from working before or after certain working hours, depending on their age and occupation. Q: Do your special rules for minors work as sports chaperones at professional sporting events? A: Yes, the new Child Labour Act exempts minors from certain provisions of the Act regarding working hours. A minor will be hired to perform sports care duties if they perform any of the following duties at a baseball, basketball, soccer, soccer, tennis or similar sporting event: Q: What are the periods of employment for minors aged 14 and 15? A: During a normal school week, minors aged 14 and 15 may not be employed before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m.; Except that during school holidays, a minor can be employed until 9 p.m. In addition, a minor may not be employed for more than three hours per school day or eight hours per day off. The minor may not be employed for more than 18 hours in a normal school week and not more than 40 hours in a week during which the school is not in session. A normal school week is the five days that begin from Monday to Friday when the school is in session.
School holidays are the period during which a minor is not required to be in school, as determined by the school district where the minor resides. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry provides a “summary of the labor time provisions of the Child Labor Act” on its website. Q: Given that an issuing agent is also considered a law enforcement officer under the Child Labour Act, what are their responsibilities? A: If a law enforcement officer has reason to believe that a person working without authorization is a minor or that a minor with a work permit violates the age restrictions of the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act, the officer may require that the person who employs the person within ten days: (1) provide proof of age to the officer; or (2) cease employment or let the person work. In all cases, the issuing agent must notify a representative of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry of the alleged violation. Q: Can a student drop out at age 16 to work as a babysitter? A: Section 1330 of the Pennsylvania School Code allows a 16-year-old to give up their job if the work they are looking for requires a work permit. There must be a formal employer-employee relationship. This means that all state and federal returns by employers, as well as tax deductions and returns, must be made. Most babysitting arrangements cannot meet this standard. Nor would self-employment fall within the conditions set out in Article 1330. Minors aged 16 and 17 are not allowed to work between midnight and 6 a.m.
if school is not at school. To work between 10 p.m. and midnight on the eve of a school day, 16- and 17-year-olds need written permission from a parent or guardian and a satisfactory certificate of school status from their school. Q: Are there any special rules for minors serving in volunteer emergency services? A: Yes, the new Child Labour Act contains specific rules for the participation of minors between the ages of 14 and 17 in voluntary rescue service organizations. Specific information on how this applies to minors between the ages of 14 and 17 can be found in section 7 of the Child Labour Act on the website of the Ministry of Labour and Industry. Q: How long do school districts need to keep work permit applications? A: Applications must be retained for two years after the student has completed or left the district. Specific information on how this applies to minors between the ages of 14 and 17 can be found in Section 6 of the Child Labor Act on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry website. Q: Can a school district refuse or revoke a work permit based on the student`s academic performance? A: Yes. Under Pennsylvania`s current child labor law, the application may be denied if, in the opinion of the issuing agent, the applicant is unable to perform properly in school if allowed to work during the school year. Similarly, an official issuing the permit may revoke a work permit if he or she believes that the applicant cannot perform adequately academically if he or she is authorized to work during the school year. Q: What are the periods of employment for minors aged 16 and over during a regular school week? A: Minors 16 years of age and older cannot be employed before 6 a.m. or after 12 p.m.
during a regular school week. The minor must not be employed for more than 8 hours per day or more than 28 hours per week during a normal school week. A normal school week is the five days that begin from Monday to Friday when the school is in session. School holidays are the period during which a minor is not required to be in school, as determined by the school district where the minor resides. A high school graduate or a person who has reached the age of sixteen (16) and retired from school to work full-time does not have to comply with the time restrictions. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry provides a “summary of the labor time provisions of the Child Labor Act” on its website. Q: Does a student need a work permit to work on a farm? A: No. The Child Labour Act states: “This law does not apply to children who are employed on farms or in domestic work in private households.” With the exception of seasonal agricultural work, the Child Labour Act does not apply to agricultural work and agricultural work in kindergartens (employment outside the retail trade). Students who work as seasonal workers in agriculture fall under the Child Labour Act and must obtain a work permit.
Q: Who is responsible for ensuring that one of the parents completes parental recognition of the minor`s duties and periods of employment? A: For persons under 16 years of age, a written statement from the minor`s parents or guardians is required confirming the understanding of the duties and hours of work and issuing the work permit. It is the responsibility of the minor`s employer to ensure that this document is signed by the minor`s parents or guardians. The employer retains the original and provides a copy to the parents or guardians. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry offers such recognition. It can be found on their website at: LLC-75, Parental Recognition of Minor`s Homework and Work Hours. The Work Experience and Career Exploration Program (WECEP) provides exemptions to child labour regulations that allow 14- and 15-year-olds to be employed in circumstances otherwise prohibited. WECEP is designed to provide a carefully planned work experience and career exploration program for students who can benefit from a career-oriented education. Q: What are an employer`s obligations if a minor has a work permit? A: To be employed, a minor must have a work permit. For persons under 16 years of age, the employer must obtain a written declaration from the parents or legal guardian of the minor confirming that he understands the duties and hours of work and issues the work permit in accordance with the provisions of article 4904 of 18 PA.C.S. (concerning false sworn to the authorities). The employer must keep a copy of the work permit, the original of the verified permit declaration and a copy of the letter sent to the issuing official announcing the minor`s employment. The employer must inform the issuing official in writing of the employment of a minor within five days of the commencement of employment, indicating the normal duties and periods of employment, as well as the age and authorization number of the minor.