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Summary of differences between federal and state regulations
The Connecticut Department of Labor administers the child labor laws.
Work age
Youths must be:
- 14 for agricultural work and work at any municipal or private golf course
- 15 for mercantile work (when school is not in session for 5 or more days)
- 16 for all other jobs not covered by the following exceptions
- 18 to work in hazardous jobs
- 21 to work with alcoholic beverages
Work hours
Youths under 16 may work:
- 7 am to 7 pm (9 pm from July 1 to first Monday in September)
- May not work during school hours
- 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week when school is not in session
- May work in mercantile only when school is not in session for 5 days or more, except may work in retail food store any Saturday during the year
Youths 16-18 may work:
- 6 am to 10 pm (11 pm for supermarket, restaurant, or theater jobs on school nights; and 12 pm midnight on non-school nights)
- 32 hours/week, 6 days/week, 6 hours/day (when school is in session for jobs in manufacturing, mechanical, retail, restaurant, theatre, amusement, and mercantile)
- 48 hours/week when school is not in session
Permits
Certificate of age for youth under age 18. Employment certificates, issued by the Connecticut Department of Education, for youth under 16 working during school hours.
Postings
Administrative regulations and minor employee work hours must be posted.
State
Contacts
Connecticut Department of Labor
Wage and Workplace Standards Division
Regulations
Connecticut child labor regulations can be found in Title 31, chapter 557, Parts I and II of the General Statutes of Connecticut.
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