Outside of agriculture, youth must be at least 16 years old before they can be employed for unlimited time periods, and they must be at least 18 years old before they can work in hazardous occupations. Even younger children may be employed outside of school hours or to work alongside their parents. Few complaints of child labor are filed. Generally, violations are uncovered only when there is an accident or fatality and even then only minimal fines are imposed. Seventy percent or more are Hispanic and others are African American, Asian, Haitian, West Indian, and Native American.
Economic necessity causes most child labor on farms.
Nor is the economic status of farmworkers improving. Payroll practices also work to the detriment of farmworker families. Frequently, the earnings of whole families are listed in payroll records under the name of the male head of household. This practice keeps other family members from earning the minimum wage or receiving credit towards Social Security, unemployment compensation, or workers' compensation benefits. Work takes place before, during, and after school hours.