The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-28
No Shylocks Wanted In
 Employing Youngsters
U. S Department of Labor Alert to Employers Profit l ing at Expense of Young, Inexperienced Workers

is not applicable she urged full ad- herence to such State standards as are set for the employment of clil- dren and when those standards do not provide adequate protection then voluntary adherence to higher standards should be sought"
 Boys and girls understandably want holiday jobs and merchants, pressed for help, take them on, 2 Miss Lenroot said. ''But the young sters are apt to overestime the load they can carry outside of school hours and numbers of them become over-tired or ill, fall behind in their classes, and lose interest. We must all remember that the first job of these youngsters is their schooling" 1" The problem, Miss Lenroot said, is particularly serious as fas as IA and 15-year olds are concerned foI "these growing boys and girls usu- ally have all they can carry in their school work and home chores. They should not be employed until all reserves of women and older boys and girls are at work. When the younger ones are employed, special care should be exercised to see that they do not work for long hours in rnhealthful 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 (popu- larly known as the Wage and Hour Law) for most produce some of the goods they sell and in addition ship it Across state lines, thus meet ing the two criteria for coverage. For instance, a retail bakery or con- fectionary store makeS and ships baked goods or candies across State lines is covered, and so are depart ment stores that manufacture any of their products, such as draper ies or slip covers, for shipment in interstate commerce.
 In retail establishments subject to the child labor provisions of the Federal act 16-year minimum age applies to work in the department where manufacturing is done. In other departments. for instance in selling and clerical work, children IA and IS years old, but none younger-nnay be employed outside school hours but for no more than three hours day and 18 hours a week when school is in session, or eight hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is not in session. Their employment, moreover, must be outside of school hours and must not extend beyond p. m.
 As protection against unintention- al violations of the minimum-age provisions of the act employers should have age certificates or work permits on file for all minors in their employ.
 "The cooperation given by merch- ants and other business groups in the recent Nation wide Go-to- School drive is evidence of an awak- ened community interest in the well fare of our school-age youth," Miss Lenroot said. This interest can be counted. on also to hold the line against employment of school boys and girls at the expense of their health and schooling throughout the Christmas rush season.
 Questions regarding the child-la- Dor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act should be directed to the regional office of the Depart ment of Labor, 2s4 Washington street, Boston 8, Massachusetts.