Summary of

Guide to Minnesota's Child Labor Standards

CAUTION:

The following information is a brief summary of the Minnesota Child Labor Act and is intended as a guide.  It is NOT to be considered in the same light as the statutes and regulations themselves.

State Regulations use Blue print

Federal Regulations use Gold print

 

MINIMUM     AGE

Preventing Discrimination Against

Teen-age Workers.

EEOC has initiated an effort entitled “Youth@Work” to increase the public awareness about federal anti-discrimination laws as they relate to teens in the workplace. The website affiliated with this initiative is available at http://youth.eeoc.gov and it contains information which explains the different types of job discrimination that young workers may encounter and suggests strategies they can use to prevent, and if necessary, respond to such discrimination. An interactive tool that tests the users understanding of bias laws by analyzing sample job discrimination scenarios and highlights recent cases brought by teen workers is included.

             

A minor under 14 years of age may be employed only as:

  • a newspaper carrier, if at least 11 years of age.

  • in agriculture, if at least 12 years of age and if parents or guardians consent.

  • as an actor/actress or model.

HOURS OF WORK

A minor under the age of 16 may not work:

  • Before 7:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. with the exception of a newspaper carrier.

  • For more than 40 hours per week* or more than 8 hours per 24 hours period* except in an agricultural operation.

  • During school hours on school days without an employment certificate issued by the appropriate school officials.

 
  • During the school year federal law restricts hours to no later than 7 p.m., no more than 3 hours per day and not more than 18 hours per week.

A minor under the age of 16 cannot work:
  • On school days, during school hours.
 

 

 

 

 

PROHIBITED OCCUPATIONS FOR MINORS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE

- To serve, dispense or handle intoxicating liquors that    are consumed on the premises

- In or about  construction or building projects.

- Operating or assisting in the operation of power-driven machinery, such as:

   
  • Forklifts
  • Woodworking machinery
  • Operating, erecting, or dismantling rides or machinery in an amusement park, street carnivals, or traveling show, or in the loading or unloading of passengers on rides.
PROHIBITED OCCUPATIONS FOR MINORS UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE:
  •  Prohibitions as listed for minors under 18 years of age
  •  To operate or assist in the operation and maintenance of machinery such as power driven snowblowers, lawn mowers and garden equipment.
  • As a helper on a motor vehicle.
  • In any manufacturing or commercial warehouse.
        Exceptions to the above:
  • A 17 year-old high school graduate.
  • A minor employed by a business that is solely owned and daily supervised by one or both parents.
  • A minor may be employed at tasks away from or outside of the area of hazardous operation, equipment or materials
 

 

WAGE

For the purpose of the minimum wage laws, all persons must be paid the applicable minimum wage.  THERE IS NO LONGER A LOWER RATE FOR MINORS.
 

Minnesota's minimum wage rates

    Small employers (Annual gross volume of sales less than $625,000)

$5.25

  Training wage (May be paid to new employees under the age of 20 during their first 90 consecutive days of employment.  Current employees may not be displaced by new employees covered by the training wage.)

$4.90

 
               
    Large employers (Annual gross volume of sales more than $625,000)

$6.15

   
                       
The above information is from a publication from the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry.  Questions can be directed to: 
 

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Labor Standards

443 Lafayette Road North

St. Paul, MN  55155-4307

 

  Phone:  1-800-342-5354

Phone:  651-296-2282

Fax:  651-215-0104

 

   
           

VISIT THEIR WEB SITE AT:

www.doli.state.mn.us/laborlaw.html

 

 

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