Connecticut Child Labor Laws. July Connecticut law allows minors under the age of 18, who have graduated from high

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Alban Griffin
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1 Connecticut Child Labor Laws July 2012 Employment of Minors Generally Connecticut law allows minors under the age of 18, who have graduated from high school, to work in any occupation during the same hours as adults; however, such minors are not exempt from federal employment prohibitions. Therefore, employers who are covered by both state and federal law regulating the employment of minors must comply with the more stringent provisions of the two sets of law. Government Employees Minors between the ages of 16 and 18 who are employees of the state or any political subdivision thereof shall be paid not less than 85% of the minimum wage. Conn. Gen. Stat a. Agricultural Employees Minors between the ages of 14 and 18 who are agricultural employees shall be paid not less than 85% of the minimum wage, except agricultural employees between the ages of 14 and 18 who are employed by employers who did not, during the preceding calendar year, employ 8 or more workers at the same time shall be paid not less than 70% of the minimum wage. Conn. Gen. Stat a. Other Employees Minors under the age of 18 working in other industries may be paid 85% of the minimum wage for the first 200 hours of employment, except for those working in institutional training

Therefore, employers who are covered by both state and federal law regulating the employment of minors must comply with the more stringent provisions of the two sets of law.

2 programs specifically exempted by the Connecticut Labor Commissioner. Conn. Gen. Stat (j) and Conn. Agencies Regs to 8. Proof of Age Employers must retain the working papers/statements of age for each employee under the age of 18 at the place of employment, unless the employer has written approval from the Labor Commissioner. Conn. Gen. Stat (d). Under 18 Prohibited Occupations Under Connecticut law, anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited from working in the following hazardous occupations, unless they have graduated from a secondary institution, or written approval has been received by the employer from the Connecticut Labor Department. These prohibitions do not apply to work study programs, apprentices in bona fide apprenticeship courses, office workers and those not directly a part of, or in contact with, production operations unless the occupations, as such, have been declared hazardous. Conn. Gen. Stat and Conn. Agencies Regs Manufacturing and storage of explosives Motor vehicle driving and outside helper Mining Logging and sawmilling The use of electrical tools, circuits, or equipment (except double insulated hand tools) Exposure to radioactive substances or ionization radiation Power-driven hoisting apparatus Power-driven metal-forming, punching or shearing machines Slaughtering or meat packing, processing or rendering, including electric meat slicers. Brick, tile, and kindred products manufacturing Wrecking, demolition, and shipbreaking Roofing operations Excavation operations Automotive maintenance and repair, EXCEPT (the following are permitted): o island work 2

Commissioner. Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-23(d).

3 o changing passenger car tires (no truck tires or working under cars or in pits) o use of air hand tools o use of properly grounded electrical hand tools (no drill over ¼ diameter) o preparing cars for painting, limited to sanding and masking (no spray painting or welding) o hand cleaning and washing of motor vehicles (no flammable liquids) o clerical or bench work Beverage bottling Soldering, welding, brazing, smelting, rolling, flame cutting, or any other types of metal processing Brick, clay or tile manufacturing Coke and tar products processing/manufacturing Dry cleaning/laundry operations Processing of food products Construction, EXCEPT the following: o Landscaping (planting small trees, shrubs, etc.) o General yard work/cleaning (no riding reel lawn mowers) o Brush painting & window cleaning (no ladders over 6 feet, no flammable cleaners/thinners, etc.) o Clerical/shipping/stock work Glazing/glass cutting operations Heat treating operations or helper Ice manufacturing Installation/maintenance/repair of electrical machinery/equipment Paper/paper products/paperboard manufacturing Plastic/plastic products manufacturing Pharmaceutical products manufacturing Operation of foot, hand or power presses Printing operations Pressure testing Synthetic fiber manufacturing Rubber/synthetic rubber products manufacturing/processing Spray painting and dipping Stone cutting and processing Leather products processing/tanning Sewing machine operation using needles over 1/16 inch diameter Tire recapping, vulcanizing or manufacturing Textile machinery operations Trash/cardboard compactor For more detail see Conn. Agencies Regs

welding, brazing, smelting, rolling, flame cutting, or any other types of metal processing Brick, clay or tile manufacturing Coke and tar products processing/manufacturing Dry cleaning/laundry

4 Time and Hour Restrictions for 16 and 17 Year Olds The following time and hour restrictions do not apply to minors under the age of 18 who have graduated from high school. Minors under the age of 18, who are enrolled in, but have not yet graduated from high school may only work during the following hours: Restaurants - During school weeks: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight if school vacation/not prior to a school day/not attending school) Restaurants - During non - school weeks: Recreational, Amusement, and Theater - During school weeks: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight if school vacation/not prior to a school day/not attending school) Recreational, Amusement, and Theater - During non-school weeks: Manufacturing and Mechanical - During school weeks: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. if school vacation/not prior to a school day/not attending school) 4

high school may only work during the following hours: Restaurants - During school weeks: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight if school vacation/not prior to a school day/not attending school) Restaurants - During non - school weeks: Recreational, Amusement, and Theater - During school weeks: 6 a.

5 Manufacturing and Mechanical - During non-school weeks: Retail/Mercantile - During school weeks: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. if school vacation/not prior to a school day/not attending school/ 12:00 midnight in a supermarket, if 3500 square feet, when no school the next day) Retail/Mercantile - During non-school weeks: Hairdressing, Bowling Alley, Pool Hall, or Photography Gallery - During school weeks: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hairdressing, Bowling Alley, Pool Hall, or Photography Gallery - During non-school weeks: Minors under the age of 18 who are not enrolled in and have not graduated from high school may only work the following hours. Retail/Mercantile: Restaurant, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Recreation, Amusement, and Theater: 9 hours per day/48 hours per week 5

6 For all occupations, work experience as part of an approved educational plan will not be counted towards permitted hourly limits. Conn. Gen. Stat , 31-13, 31-14, and and 15 Year Olds Permitted Occupations Under Connecticut law, 14 and 15 year olds are permitted to work in the following occupations: Agriculture Street trades (newspaper delivery, shoe shining, baby-sitting, etc.) Hospitals (no food service or laundry) Convalescent homes (no food service or laundry) Hotels and motels (no food service or laundry) Banks Insurance companies Professional offices (lawyers, CPAs, etc.) Municipalities (library attendants, recreation departments, etc.) Golf caddies Acting Household chores for private homeowners (yard work, etc.) Licensed summer camps Mercantile/solicitation Minor must be at least 15 years old and may then be employed in any mercantile establishment as a bagger, cashier, or stock clerk Prohibited Occupations Under Connecticut law, minors under the age of 16 are prohibited from working in the following occupations. Restaurant/food service Recreational establishments Manufacturing industries Mechanical/service industries Mercantile/solicitation However minors who are at least 15 years old may be employed in any mercantile establishment as a bagger, cashier, or stock clerk Theatrical industry Barber shops Any other business types not listed on the Permitted Occupation list. Conn. Gen. Stat (a). 6

7 These prohibitions may be lifted where authorized by the Labor Commissioner for minors aged 14 and 15 who are enrolled in (1) a public school in a work-study program, or (2) a summer work-recreation program sponsored by a town, city or borough or by a human resources development agency, or (3) a vocational probation pursuant to an order of the Superior Court, or (4) a vocational parole program by the Commissioner of Children and Families. Conn. Gen. Stat (a). Hours of Work Even when 14 & 15 year-old minors are permitted to work they may not be employed: During school hours. Before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., except from July 1 to Labor Day, when evening hours are extended to 9 p.m. More than 3 hours per day on school days, or 8 hours on non-school days. More than 18 hours a week in school weeks, or 40 hours in non-school weeks. Conn. Gen. Stat (b). For more information contact scott@schaffer-law.com or

by the Commissioner of Children and Families. Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-23(a). Hours of Work Even when 14 & 15 year-old minors are permitted to work they may not be employed: During school hours.

Employment Permit Application for 14 through 17 Year-Olds

Employment Permit Application for 14 through 17 Year-Olds Instructions: After completing the form and obtaining the required signatures as indicated, take this completed form to the Superintendent of Schools,