What is the child labor law?
Child labor laws in California are designed to protect the rights of young workers. Under these laws, minors (persons under the age of 18) are only allowed to work certain jobs and must adhere to certain restrictions. The California Department of Industrial Relations outlines the age requirements for certain occupations, as well as the maximum hours minors are allowed to work and other restrictions that apply to those under the age of 18. To start, employers must obtain a child labor permit from the state of California. Minors can only work in approved occupations that are designated by the state. Occupations deemed hazardous or that require heavy labor, such as mining, power line work, or manufacturing, are prohibited. All minors under the age of 18 must receive an hourly wage that is at least the current minimum wage in California. The law also restricts the hours that a minor can work. Minors under the age of 16 are generally not allowed to work more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, although exceptions may be made for those who are 16 or 17. In addition, minors cannot work before 7 a.m., after 7 p.m., or during school hours. Finally, the state of California requires employers to provide minors with a work permit, and employers must obtain a permit from the Department of Industrial Relations before hiring minors. California’s child labor law is designed to protect minors from hazardous work conditions and ensure that they are paid a fair wage.
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