Division of Regulation

Employers

Posting Requirements
Employers who hire minors must display a poster in a conspicuous place on the property or place of employment notifying them of the Child Labor Law. Child labor posters may be obtained through this website by accessing Poster or by calling Child Labor Compliance at 1.800.226.2536.

Other Florida and Federal posting requirements can be obtained at:
Child_Labor_Laws_Poster_Legal

Documentation Requirements
Employers are required to keep waiver authorizations, proof of age documentation, and proof of exemption from minor status for all employees who are under 18. These records must be maintained for the duration of the minor’s employment. Unless exempt from the FLSA, the records must be kept until the minor turns 19.

Parental Permission to Hire
Employers are not required by law to have permission from the parents to employ their minor child. However, we strongly encourage employers to include parents in the process.

Work Permits
"Work Permits" and/or "Working Papers" are not required in Florida and are not issued by either the schools or any governmental agency in Florida. Please see Waivers.

Hour Limitations
Minors are limited in the hours they may work to permit them to attend and complete their educational responsibilities. Please access Hour Limitations for a summary of work hour limitations for minors.

Breaks
Minors may work no more than 4 consecutive hours without a 30-minute uninterrupted break.

Exemptions
Minors are exempt from the hour limitations of the Child Labor Law if they have been married, graduated from an accredited high school or hold a high school equivalency diploma, served in the military, have been authorized by a court order, or been issued a partial waiver by the public school or the Child Labor Program.

Prohibited Occupations
Minors are limited in the types of occupations they may perform for safety reasons. Please access Prohibited Occupations for the listing.

Safety
Each year minors suffer injuries in the workplace. For information that could help reduce injuries please review sites below.

National Institute of Safety and Heath (NIOSH) Young Worker Safety and Health Site

United States Department of Labor, Youth & Labor, Federal Safety and Health Site

Safety Tips for Employers
• Comply with child labor laws and occupational health and safety regulations that apply to your business.
• Assess and eliminate hazards for teen workers.
• Train teen workers to use safe work practices, recognize hazards and prepare for emergencies.
• Assure that teen workers are appropriately supervised.

Recommendations for Reducing Work Place Injuries
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that employers take the following steps to protect adolescent workers and minimize accidents.
• Know and comply with child labor laws and occupational safety and health regulations that apply to your business. Post these regulations for workers to read.
• Assess and eliminate the potential for injury or illness associated with tasks required of adolescents.
• Provide training to ensure that adolescents recognize hazards and are competent in safe work practices.
• Routinely verify that the adolescents continue to recognize hazards and employ safe work practices.
• Evaluate equipment that adolescents are required to operate to ensure that it is both legal and safe for use by adolescents.
• Ensure that adolescents are appropriately supervised to prevent injuries and hazardous exposures.
• Involve supervisors and experienced workers in developing an injury and illness prevention program and in identifying and solving safety and health problems.

Partial Waivers
The Florida Child Labor Law is designed to serve and protect minors and to encourage them to remain in school. At times, however, some minors feel that the law conflicts with their best interest or that their life circumstances are such that they need to work. Minors have the right to request that the Child Labor Office exempt them from parts of the Child Labor Law. For detailed information on waivers please access Waivers.

For a copy of the Partial Waiver Application and instructions, go to the top of the page and key on “APPLY FOR A LICENSE”.  Double click the “Check here to” box.  This will take you to the Application Center and the Child Labor applications. 

Suggestions to Employers
Employers can be instrumental in assisting minors in applying for partial waivers of Child Labor Law by following these suggestions:

•Have the application on hand, download the application, or call 800.226.2536 (interstate) or 850.488.3131 for a mailed copy.  You can make as many copies of the application as you like.

• You can assist the minor in completing the application and determining what supportive documentation is necessary. The required supportive documentation is on the instruction sheet (second page).

• You can fax the completed application and the appropriate supportive documentation to this office. Our fax number is 850.487.4928. We can return the completed waiver to you by fax, if you annotate the request on the fax and provide us with the fax number on your cover sheet.

The waiver must be approved before the minor can work the hours authorized by the waiver. Please ensure that the minor receives a copy, as it is his/her waiver. Waivers are valid for either one year or until the minor turns eighteen, whichever comes first. You are also required to keep a copy of the minor’s waiver in your file.

Penalties
Employment of minors in violation of Florida child labor laws may result in fines up to $2,500 per offense and/or be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor.

Presentations
Employers who have an interest in learning more about Florida’s child labor law may request training by contacting the Bureau of Child Labor at 1.800.226.2536.

Links
Additional websites of interest pertaining to Child Labor.

FEDERAL WEB SITE LINKS

The United States Department of Labor (U.S.D.O.L.), Division of Wage and Hour, offers assistance to employers and employees with information on understanding the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Federal Child Labor Regulations: Title 29, Part 570

Federal Child Labor Hazards for 16-18 yr. olds; CFR 29,Chapter V, Part 570, Subpart E

Federal Child Labor Employment Hazards for 14-15 yr. olds; CFR 29, Chapter V, Part 570, Subpart C

Self-Assessment Guide
A self-assessment instrument that allows you to evaluate your compliance efforts with the child labor law and an action plan with self-help corrective measures to bring you into compliance. Please access Employer_Self_Assessment Guide.