Child Labor Standards Act

The Child Labor Standards Act governs the employment of minors, setting age-based limits on what work children may perform and prohibiting certain occupations outright for younger workers while permitting a narrower range of jobs as minors approach adulthood. It restricts the hours minors may work, defines the terms and categories it uses, and carves out exemptions for specified situations, including certain agricultural work. Enforcement rests with a designated state authority empowered to enter and inspect workplaces and employment records, issue subpoenas, adopt implementing rules, and impose penalties for violations.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.