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Summary of differences between federal and state regulations
The Alabama Department of Labor, Child Labor Office controls the Child Labor Program. The Child Labor Program is responsible for enforcing Alabama's child labor law, which protects minors by prohibiting work in hazardous locations, regulating the time of day and the number of hours youth may work, and requiring child labor work permits.
Work age
There is no working age specified for farm work. Youths must be:
- 12 to deliver newspapers and for summer employment in offices and stores
- 16 for most non-hazardous occupations
- 18 for all other employment, except serving alcoholic beverages which is 21
Alabama prohibits a person under 16 from selling fireworks unless supervised by a person at least 18 years of age.
Work hours
Youths under 16 may work:
- 7 am to 7 pm and until 9 pm during summer vacation
- Maximum of 3 hours/day; 18 hours/week when school is in session; or 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week, 6 days/week
- No restrictions for youth performers
Youths 16-18 may work:
- 5 am to 10 pm on school nights, except 10 pm limit may be exceeded for certified trainees
- No restrictions for youth performers.
Breaks
Youths must be provided a 30 minute break every 5 hours.
Permits
Youths under 18 must have work permit issued by public school officials. Exceptions: agriculture employee permits and federal summer jobs.
An employer must obtain a child labor certificate from the Alabama Department of Labor in order to employ a minor that is between the ages of 14 and 17 years.
Minors between the ages of 14 and 15 years must obtain an eligibility to work form.
Postings
Post notice summarizing child labor requirements to include starting/quitting times and meal periods.
State
Contact
Regulations
The Alabama child labor requirements can be found in Title 25, Chapter 8 of the Code of Alabama.
Federal
Contact
The Department of Labor is the sole federal agency that monitors child labor and enforces child labor laws. Enforcement of the Fair Labor Standard Act's child labor provisions is handled by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department’s Employment Standards Administration.
Regulations
U.S. child labor regulations can be found in CFR 29:
Part 570 Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation
Part 575 Waiver of Child Labor Provisions for Agricultural Employment of 10 and 11 Year Old Minors In Hand Harvesting of Short Season Crops
Part 579 Child Labor Violations – Civil Money Penalties