The union times., 1944-12-09
Don't Play Santa Claus at Expense of School Boys and i
Observe Provisions
 Of Child Labor Laws

Don't play Santa Claus al the expense of school boys and girls, Katharine F. Len root, Chief of the Children'i Bureau, U. s. Department o1 Labor, urged today, in antici patton of the youngsters rush for sales jobs for the Christ mas holidays.
 She appealed to retailers ane other prospective employers o+ in-school youth to cooperate witt the schools in working out em ploy1nent policies that will no endanger the schooling or tht health of these young workers.
 MUST BE OBSERVED
 Miss Lenroot coupled her appeal with a warning that child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Stand ards Act must be strictly observed In instances where the Federal law is not applicable she urged full ad herence to such State standards as are set for the employment Oi children and s'when those stand. ards do not provide adequate pro- 0l to higher standards should be sought"
 Boys and girls understandably want holiday jobs and merchants pressed for help, take them on" Miss Lenroot said. But the youngsters are apt to overestimate the load they car carry outside of school hours an6 numbers of them become over-tired ol i'll, fall behind ill their classes, and lose interest. We must all remember that the first job of these youngsters is their schooling"
 The problem, Miss. Lenrooi said, is particularly serious as fal as IA and l5-year odds are con. cerned for t'these growing boys and girls usually have all they can carry in their school work and home chores. They should not be em' pIOyed until all reserves of women and older boys and girls are al work. When the younger ones are employed, special care should be exercised to see that they do moi work for long hours nor in un- heaIthful surroundings nor at tasks unsuited to their strength"
 Most large retail establishments, Miss Lenroot explained, are subject to Federal regulation under the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1888 (popularly known as the Wage and Hour Law) for most produce some of the goods they sell and in addition ship ii across state lines, thus meeting the two criteria for coverage. For in- stance, a retail bakery or confection- ary store makes and ships baked goods or candies across State lines is covered, and so are department stores that manufacture any of their pro- ducts, such as draperies or slip covers for shipment in interstate commerce
 In retail establishments subjec, to the child-labor provisions of the Federal act l6-year minimum age applies to work in the department where manufacturing is done. In other departments, for instance ir selling and clerical work, children IA and l5-year old-but none younger-may be employed out side school hours but for no more than hours a day and 18 hours a week when school is in session or 8 hours day and 40 hours g week when school is not in ses sion. Their employment, moreover must be outside of school hour. and must not extend beyond PM.
 As protection against unintentiona violations of the minimum-age pro visions of the act employers should have age certificates or work permits on file for all minors in their employ
 "The cooperation given by mer chants and other business groups il the recent Nationwide Go-to- Schoo drive is evidence of an awakened com munity interest in the welfare of ou school-age youth" Miss Lenroot said This interest can be counted on als' to hold the fine against employmen of school boys and girls at the ex pense of their health and schooling throughout the Christmas rush season
 Questions regarding the child labor provisions of the Fair Labo Standards Act should be directe' to the regional office of the De pertinent of Labor, 294 Washing