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Employment of Minors

The Division of Labor Standards enforces the maximum and prohibited working hours as well as type of work permitted for minors.
Child Labor in NYS
Keeping Kids Safe in the Workplace

The Division of Labor Standards enforces the statutes that govern the maximum and prohibited hours of work as well as the type of work permitted for minors.

Our website contains general information on the provisions of the laws governing the employment of minors in New York State. We omit certain details. Do not consider this as a final interpretation of the law. Section 141 of the New York State Labor Law provides for the imposition of civil penalties for violation of Article 4 governing the employment of minors under 18 years of age.  The following guidelines (LS 163.1) establish a range of monetary assessments for various types of violations.

For establishments covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, Federal laws on minimum wage, overtime pay, and the employment of minors may in some cases set higher standards than State requirements. The requirements of State Law do not affect an employer's obligation to comply with any provisions of Federal law. For details on Federal laws, by contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration - Wage and Hour Division.

File a child labor complaint