This Fact Sheet provides general information about the Federal child labor provisions applicable to non-agricultural occupations.
Different standards apply to farm work.
The Department of Labor is committed to helping young workers find those positive and early employment experiences that can be so important to their development, but the work must be safe. The child labor provisions of the FLSA were enacted to ensure that when young people work, the work does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities. It is an unfortunate fact that children do get injured, even killed, in the workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that over 210,000 American children suffer occupational injuries every year and over 70,000 of these injuries are serious enough to warrant emergency room treatment. Both Federal and State laws govern the employment of young workers and when both are applicable, the law with the stricter standard must be obeyed.