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Child labor

Children have rights.

Child working in construction sites

Questions?
We’re here to help.

We are committed to helping you understand your rights as a worker. Many questions about wage rights may be answered by using the following elaws (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) Advisors:

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Child Labor Rules Advisor

For additional assistance, please contact:

OSHA at 1-800-321-6742

Your local OSHA office

All discussions between OSHA and employees or their representatives are free and confidential. Safety and health complaints from employees or their representatives are taken seriously by OSHA, and OSHA will keep their information confidential.

Learn about filing a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Federal child labor law generally prohibits the employment of minors in nonagricultural occupations under the age of 14, restricts the hours and types of work that minors can perform under 16, and prohibits the employment of minors under the age of 18 in any hazardous occupation. Different child labor law standards apply to agricultural employment. Young workers have rights in the workplace, as outlined in OSHA’s videos in English and Spanish.

Detailed information on federal and state child labor laws is available on YouthRules.gov.

Additional resources

Overview of Child Labor

Youth Rules!

State Child Labor Laws

Basic Information on Federal Wage Laws from WHD

Prohibited Occupations for Child Labor (Nonagricultural Work)

Prohibited Occupations for Child Labor (Agricultural Work)

OSHA Resources on Worker Rights

OSHA Worker Rights Booklet

OSHA Video on Workers’ Safety and Health Rights on the Job

Video de OSHA sobre Derechos de los Trabajadores

Video de OSHA sobre Ningún Pago le Vale la Vida

Need more information?

The elaws (Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses) Advisors are a set of online tools developed by the U.S. Department of Labor to help employees and employers understand their rights and responsibilities under Federal employment laws.

Common Concerns

My employer isn’t giving me required personal protective equipment or PPE (such as gloves or a harness and lifeline)

See OSHA’s Employer Payment Guidelines for what type of equipment is covered (PDF)

My employer blames me for getting injured on the job

I’m afraid to request a safety inspection or speak with an inspector

I wasn’t trained in a language I understand

I’m working on machines that are unsafe

I was fired or threatened for reporting a safety issue

I think someone is employing children in an unsafe workplace

What are my safety rights as a miner?

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U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20210
1-866-487-2365 

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1-866-4-USA-DOL