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Summary of differences between federal and state regulations
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division, Employment Standards Program administers the child labor laws.
Work age
Youths must be:
- None specified for newspaper carriers, casual work in private homes, domestic work, and certain entertainers
- 12 for harvesting berries, bulbs, spinach, and cucumbers
- 14 for non-hazardous agricultural jobs
- 16 for most non-hazardous jobs involving machinery and door-to-door sales (unless granted a variance from the Department of Labor)
- 18 to work in all jobs
Work hours
Youths under age 16 may work:
- 7 am to 7 pm (9 pm on weekends and summer vacation)
- 8 hours/day, 6 days/week, 40 hours/week
- 3 hours/day, 16 hours/week when school is in session (8 hours/day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Youth 16-17 may work:
- 7 am to 10 pm on school nights, with adult supervision after 8 pm (5am to 10 pm for agricultural jobs)
- 5 am to 12 am on non-school nights
- 8 hours/day, 48 hours/week (4 hours/day, 20 hours/week when school is in session – 8 hours/day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
Breaks
Youths under age 18 must be given a 30-minute break every 4 hours and a 10-minute break every 2 hours.
Permits
Youth under age 18 must have an employment permit from the Washington Department of Labor and Industries. For each employee under age 18, the employer must have a work permit from local school officials and proof of age, insurance policy, address, sex, starting and quitting times, mealtimes, rest periods, description of duties, and parental consent.
Postings
Employers must post the rights of agricultural employees and a permit to employ minors. If employees lift weights over 20 pounds, the employer must post proper lifting techniques.
State
Contact
Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Specialty Compliance Services Division
Regulations
The Washington child labor laws can be found in Chapter 49.12 of the Revised Code of Washington.
Rules for child labor can be found at Chapter 296-125 of the Washington Administrative Code.
Rules for child labor can also be found at Chapter 296-126 of the Washington Administrative 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.
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