According to Corey Surett, Wage and Hour District Director for Massachusetts, the department's Wage and Hour Division investigated a total of 47 companies during the period February through July 2000, and found nearly half of them in violation. In turn, noted Surett, nearly half of the twenty employers found in violation this year have a previous history of child labor violations. The initiative embraces a strategy of enhanced enforcement, increased education, strong partnerships, and heightened public awareness to increase compliance with federal child labor laws. Under federal law, employment in specific hazardous occupations until age 18 is prohibited. There are also additional occupation restrictions for minors under 16, as well as hours and time restrictions for those under age 16.
Different standards apply to farm labor.
In Massachusetts there are further restrictions on the employment of minors.