They must be employed on the same farm as their parents, or have written parental consent to work elsewhere. On other farms, they may work in nonhazardous jobs outside school hours with written parental consent. Local youths 10 and 11 may hand harvest short-season crops outside school hours for no more than 8 weeks between June 1 and October 15 if their employers have obtained special waivers from the Secretary of Labor. Youths of any age may work at any time in any job on a farm owned or operated by their parents. The prohibition on employment in hazardous occupations does not apply to youths employed on farms owned or operated by their parents.
Many states have laws setting standards for child labor in agriculture.
When both State and federal child labor laws apply, the law setting the more stringent standard must be observed. The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Labor Department's Employment Standards Administration enforces the laws. Contact the nearest office of the Wage and Hour Division, listed in most telephone directories under U.S. Government, Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration. This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S. Department of Labor Programs. It is intended as a general description only and does not carry the force of legal opinion.