What is the child labor law?

In Mississippi, the child labor law sets forth regulations regarding the employment of minors. The law sets the minimum age a child can work, prohibits certain jobs for youth, and outlines applicable work hour restrictions. The minimum age a child is allowed to work in Mississippi is 14, though there are a few exceptions. For example, if the work performed is part of an education program, the age minimum is lowered to 12. The law also includes restrictions on the number of hours a minor may work in a day, how late they are allowed to work, and which jobs they may or may not do. The law states that any child under 16 years of age may not work more than 8 hours in a day, 6 days a week, or more than 48 hours a week. Additionally, minors under 16 are not allowed to work between the hours of 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Special rules also exist for minors who are attending school. For those attending school, they may not work at all during school hours. Youth between 16-18 years of age may work the same hours allowed to adults, unless they are attending school, in which case the same restrictions apply. It is also unlawful for employers to hire minors and ask them to perform hazardous tasks, such as operating power-driven machinery, working with explosives, and jobs involving pesticides, radioactive materials, or hazardous chemicals. Overall, the Mississippi child labor law is designed to protect the safety and welfare of minors in the state. The law limits the hours of work and prohibits minors from performing certain hazardous activities.

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