Agencies Controlling Employment of Minors
State child labor laws and the child labor provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) govern most California employers.
If federal laws, state laws and school district policies conflict, the more restrictive law (that which is most protective of the employee) prevails.
Summary of Minors’ Work Regulations
Generally, minors must attend school until age 18 unless they are 16 years or older and have graduated from high school or received a state
Certificate of Proficiency.
Minors under the age of 18 may not work in occupations declared hazardous for young workers as listed below.
- Explosives
- Motor vehicle driving/outside helper
- Coal mining
- Logging and saw milling
- Power-driven woodworking machines
- Radiation exposure
- Power-driven hoists/forklifts
- Power-driven metal forming, punching, and shearing machines
- Other mining
- Power-driven meat slicing/processing
- Power baking machines
- Power-driven paper products/paper bailing
- Manufacturing brick, tile products
- Power saws and shears
- Wrecking, demolition
- Roofing
- Excavation operation
For more information about hazardous occupations, contact the U.S. Department of Labor (child Labor Bulletins 101 and 102) and the California Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. Regional offices are located in several California cities. They are listed in the “Government Listings” sections of telephone directories.
Labor laws set the basic minimum age of 16 years for general employment. Persons younger than 16 years are allowed to work only in limited specified occupations, which exclude baking, manufacturing, processing, construction, warehouse, and transportation occupations.
Labor laws applicable to adult employees are also generally applicable to minor employees, including workers’ compensation insurance requirements.
Child labor laws do not generally apply to minors who deliver newspapers or work at odd jobs, such as yard work and baby-sitting, or in private homes where the minor is not regularly employed.
Employers of minors required to attend school must complete a “Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit” (form B1-1) for the school district of attendance for each such minor. Employers must themselves have on file for each such minor a “Permit to Employ and Work” (form B1-4). Work permits (B14) must be open at all times for inspection by sanctioned authorities.
A work permit (B 1-4) must be revoked whenever the issuing authority determines the employment is illegal or is impairing the health or education of the minor.
Hours of Work
16 – 17 When school is in session: Daily maximum 4 hours, Monday through Thursday. May work up to 8 hours on any nonschool day or on any day that precedes a nonschool day. May be permitted to work up to 48 hours per week. Students in Work Experience Education programs may be permitted to work a maximum of 8 hours on a school day.
Work must be performed between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. except that work may extend to 12:30 a.m. on nights preceding nonschool days. Students in Work Experience Education programs may be authorized to work until 12:30 a.m. on nights preceding school days.
14 – 15 When school is in session: Daily maximum 3 hours. Weekly maximum 18 hours, except 23 hours if students are in Work Experience Education programs.
Generally may not work during school hours except in Work Experience Education programs. When school is not in session: Daily maximum 8 hours and weekly maximum 40 hours.
May work from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. any day of the week. May work from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day.
Younger than 14: Labor laws generally prohibit nonfarm employment of children younger that 14. Special rules apply to agricultural work, domestic work and the
entertainment industry.
A day of rest from work is required if the total hours worked per week exceed 30 or if more than 6 hours are worked on any one-day during the week.