1. Child Labor Laws

2. CHILD LABOR LAWS
Lesson goal
To introduce students to Virginia child labor laws, their purpose, and their basic requirements.

3. CHILD LABOR LAWS
Students will learn:
Virginia laws and regulations that govern labor by those under 18 years of age, and their purposes
Requirements for obtaining an employment certificate or an age certificate
Types of work and hours that minors are allowed to work under Virginia child labor laws
Examples of occupations that are considered unhealthy, unwholesome, or dangerous, and related age restrictions

4. CHILD LABOR LAWS
About child labor laws
Child labor laws are intended to protect the health and safety of children, to prevent exploitation, and to ensure that work does not interfere with their educational opportunities
The regulations are contained in Title 16 of the Virginia Administrative Code

5. In general, 14- and 15-year-olds:
CHILD LABOR LAWS
In general, 14- and 15-year-olds:
Must have an employment certificate.
Have limits on hours they can work.
Cannot work in certain jobs considered to be unhealthy, unwholesome, or dangerous

6. Employment certificates
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Employment certificates
There are three key documents required for an employment certificate:
Permission to Employ – this form is filled out by parents and must be signed by the parent in the presence of the issuing officer or contain a notarized signature. (Code of Virginia § )
Intent to Employ – This form is filled out by the employer. The employer must state clearly the kind of work the teenager will be performing, the number of days per week, the number of hours per day, and the amount of time given for lunch periods. (Code of Virginia § )
Proof of Age – a document providing the age of the minor, such as a birth certificate, baptismal record, insurance policy at least one year old, school record, or government-issued identification such as a passport of state ID. (Code of Virginia § )

7. CHILD LABOR LAWS
Age certificates
Age certificates serve as proof of age. They are issued by Work Permit Issuing Officers, typically to workers age 16 and older. Proof of age is often requested by an employer as part of the hiring process when the job requires that the worker be 16 or older. (Code of Virginia § )

8. Vacation or part-time certificates
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Vacation or part-time certificates
These permit the employment of a minor between 14 and 16 years of age only during school vacation periods and on days when school is not in session, or outside school hours on school days. (Code of Virginia § )

9. Work-training certificates
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Work-training certificates
These permit the employment of a minor between 14 and 16 years of age during school hours when enrolled in a regular school work-training program. To qualify as a work-training program, there must be a written agreement between the employer and the school that meets certain requirements. (Code of Virginia § )

10. No employment certificate needed
CHILD LABOR LAWS
No employment certificate needed
Working for parents or in the home of others
Working on a farm, garden, or orchard
Performing or acting (note: the employer must obtain theatrical permits from the Department of Labor and Industry; Code of Virginia § )
Working for a government employer
Doing volunteer work

11. At any age, it is allowable to:
CHILD LABOR LAWS
At any age, it is allowable to:
Work at home for parents doing domestic jobs such as cleaning house or taking out the trash
Work on parents’ farm, garden, or orchard doing such things as planting and feeding animals
Work in a business owned by parents except manufacturing, mining, or other dangerous jobs
Work at another person’s house doing housecleaning or babysitting, with parents’ permission
Participate with a volunteer rescue squad
See, Code of Virginia §

12. If you are 12 or older, you may:
CHILD LABOR LAWS
If you are 12 or older, you may:
Work on any farm, garden, or orchard belonging to someone else
Deliver newspapers
Referee at a sporting event for a charitable or government organization
If you are between 12 and 18, work as a page or clerk for the Virginia General Assembly
For any of these jobs, you need your parents’ permission.

13. If you are 14 or 15 you may work:
CHILD LABOR LAWS
If you are 14 or 15 you may work:
In any office job
In a hospital or nursing home doing kitchen duties and room and hallway cleaning
As a cashier for a dry cleaners as long as no processing is done on the premise
In food service cleaning dishes, waiting on tables (but not serving alcoholic beverages), and as a cashier or kitchen helper (with restrictions)
At bowling alleys
At a swimming pool as a gatekeeper or in concessions
On a beach handling beach equipment

14. Prohibited jobs for minors under 16
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Prohibited jobs for minors under 16
Coal or lumber yard
Hotel room services
Dance studio
Veterinarian business, while treating farm animals or horses
Warehouse work
Construction
Providing care for residents in a hospital or nursing home
Processing in dry cleaners or laundries
Undertaking establishment or funeral home
Curb service restaurant
Hotel/motel room service

15. Prohibited jobs for minors, cont.
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Prohibited jobs for minors, cont.
Ushers in a theater
Outdoor theater
Cabaret, carnival, fair, floor show, pool hall, club, or roadhouse
Lifeguard at a beach
See, Code of Virginia Title 40.1

16. Prohibited work for those under 18
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Prohibited work for those under 18
In a mine
In any occupation that exposes them to a recognized hazard capable of causing serious physical harm or death, including logging, manufacturing, or storage of explosives
Manufacturing paints, colors, or white lead
Establishments where consumption of alcoholic beverages is the main business
As a driver or helper on a truck or commercial vehicle with more than 2 axles
See, Code of Virginia §

17. (defined as June 1 to Labor Day)
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Hours minors can work
School Year
Summer
(defined as June 1 to Labor Day)
Between the Hours of 7 AM and 7 PM
Not during school time
With a paper route can start delivering at 4 AM
Between the hours of 7 AM and 9 PM
3 hours per day on a school day
8 hours per day on a non-school day
18 hours a week for a school week
40 hours a week in a non-school week

18. School work-training programs
CHILD LABOR LAWS
School work-training programs
Persons may not work during school hours unless enrolled in a school work-training program with a work training certificate.
The person must be given a 30-minute rest or meal period after five consecutive hours of work.
See, Code of Virginia §

19. Exceptions to limitations on hours
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Exceptions to limitations on hours
Exceptions to the limitations on hours for any teens include work in:
Non-manufacturing parent-owned businesses
Parent-owned farms, orchards, or gardens
Around parents’or someone else’s home
For the state or local government
Performing or acting
Activities for a volunteer rescue squad
See Code Virginia §

20. Work in restaurants where alcohol is served
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Work in restaurants where alcohol is served
No employee working in the capacity of a server can be under the age of 18.
No bartender can be under the age of 21.
Staff such as busboys, cooks, and kitchen help can be any age.
If the restaurant serves only beer, an individuals who is 18 years old may act in the capacity of a bartender.
See, 3 VAC

21. Work in a store where alcohol is sold
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Work in a store where alcohol is sold
In a store that sells alcohol to be consumed off premises (such as a grocery or convenience store), someone under 17 with a proper employment certificate can work as a clerk or cashier selling the products as long as this is not their primary function and there is an ABC manager on duty on the premise.
See, Code of Virginia § and 3 VAC

22. Restrictions on driving
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Restrictions on driving
If you are under 18, you generally cannot be employed as a driver.
Those who are at least 17 may drive automobiles or trucks on public roadways if:
the automobile does not exceed 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
the vehicle is equipped with seat belts
the employer requires the employee to use the seatbelts
the driving is done during daylight hours

23. Restrictions on driving, cont.
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Restrictions on driving, cont.
Younger employees must have successfully completed a state-approved driver education course and the driving cannot involve:
The towing of vehicles
Route deliveries or route sales
The transportation for hire of property, goods or passengers
Urgent, time-sensitive deliveries such as food
The transporting at any time of more than three passengers, including the employees of the employer

24. Volunteer fire fighting
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Volunteer fire fighting
Minors who are at least 16 may participate fully in all activities of a volunteer fire company if:
they have obtained a level one firefighter certification and have their parents’ permission and
there is a town, city, or country ordinance in place permitting persons 16 years of age or older to participate.
See Code of Virginia § and

25. Responsibilities of employers
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Responsibilities of employers
It is illegal for an employer to endanger your life, health or morals or cause you to be overworked, tormented, or cruelly treated.
Code of Virginia §
Civil Penalties – a penalty up to $10,000 may be assessed for any violation that results in serious injury or death of a minor or a penalty of up to $1,000 may be assessed for other violations of child labor laws.
Code of Virginia §§ and

26. CHILD LABOR LAWS
Criminal penalties
Prescribed under a law on cruelty and injuries to children.
Code of Virginia § makes it unlawful for any person employing or having the custody of any child willfully or negligently to cause or permit the life of such child to be endangered or the health of such child to be injured, or willfully or negligently to cause or permit such child to be placed in a situation that its life, health, or morals may be endangered, or cause or permit such child to be overworked, tortured, tormented, mutilated, beaten, or cruelly treated. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

27. Review and recap You have learned:
CHILD LABOR LAWS
Review and recap
You have learned:
Child labor laws in Virginia protect the health and safety of children, prevent exploitation, and protect their educational opportunities.
State regulations define hazardous occupations and bar workers under 18 from these occupations and law bars minors from working in job conditions considered to be unhealthy, unwholesome, or dangerous.
How to obtain an employment certificate and an age certificate and which jobs require which documents.

28. CHILD LABOR LAWS
Review and recap, cont.
That some occupations require workers to be at least 16 years of age, and some require workers to be at least 18.
That in most cases minors must work outside of school hours.
Additional laws govern jobs involving sales of alcohol and driving vehicles.
Employers who disobey these laws are subject to fines and criminal penalties.

29. To learn more Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
CHILD LABOR LAWS
To learn more
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
Information on employment certificates:
cate_instructions.html
United States Department of Labor