What legal protections are available to children in cases of labor exploitation?

In New Mexico, children are legally protected from exploitation in the labor force. To protect children, the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) has issued regulations, which prohibit the employment of minors under the age of 18 for certain hazardous activities. In addition, the state has passed the New Mexico Child Labor Act, which sets rules and guidelines for the employment of minors. The New Mexico Child Labor Act states that children must be at least 14 years old to work in any paying job. Minors between the ages of 14 and 15 are generally limited to working no more than 8 hours a week and no more than 3 hours a day. Minors aged 16 and 17 may work up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. However, minors may not work before 7 am or after 7 pm. The act also prohibits minors from working in certain hazardous jobs, such as those involving the use of heavy machinery or in jobs that are likely to cause injury. Additionally, the New Mexico Child Labor Act also requires employers to provide minors with breaks of at least 30 minutes for every four hours worked and at least 8 hours of rest between shifts. The act also requires employers to keep records of the hours worked and wages earned by minors. In cases of labor exploitation, minors are legally protected by the laws outlined in the New Mexico Child Labor Act. In addition, the CYFD also has the power to investigate claims of child labor exploitation and take action against any employer found to be in violation of the state’s labor laws. The CYFD also provides education and resources for employers to ensure that they are in compliance with the child labor laws.

What legal protections are available to children in cases of labor exploitation?

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