Child labor - Mississippi

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Mississippi does not have a Department of Labor. Child labor laws are administered by local school officials and the state attorney general.

Work age

Youths must be:

• 14 for most employment
• 17 for school bus drivers
• 18 for serving alcoholic beverages (not bartenders)
• 21 for tending bar

Work hours

Youths 14 or older may work:

• 6 am to 7 pm to work in factories, mills, and canneries
• 8 hours/day, 44 hours/week

Mississippi has no work restrictions for youth 16 and older.

Permits

Parental affidavit and certificate of school attendance for youth under 16, which are kept on file by the employer. Employer must also keep a register of all affidavits for current employees and the information contained in them.

State

Contact

Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission

Regulations

The Mississippi child labor requirements can be found in Title 71, Chapter 1, Sections 71-1-17 through 71-1-31 of the Mississippi Code.

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.

Department of Labor

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