What is the child labor law?
Child labor laws in North Carolina are in place to protect the safety of young workers and to ensure they are not taken advantage of by employers. The laws place restrictions on the type of work a minor can do and how long a minor is allowed to work. For the most part, minors under the age of 14 are not allowed to work in North Carolina. Those between the ages of 14 and 15 can participate in non-hazardous work only, and then only during certain hours. Minors may not work before 7 am or after 7 pm on a school night or before 7 am or after 9 pm on a nonschool night. Additionally, minors aged 14 and 15 are allowed to work no more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. Employers must also provide a thirty-minute break during each four-hour work period for minors aged 14 and 15. Minors between the ages of 16 and 18 may work longer hours, but are still subject to restrictions. They may not work more than 10 hours a day or 54 hours in a week. Additionally, minors of this age may not work more than 6 consecutive days and may not work before 6 am or after 10 pm on school nights, or before 6 am or after 12 am on nonschool nights. It is important to also note that certain restrictions apply to all minors, regardless of age. Minors are not allowed to work in hazardous occupations and must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times. Further, minors must have written permission to work from a parent or guardian or, if the minor is married, from their spouse, in order to be eligible for employment in North Carolina.
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