Federal and state labor officials on Tuesday announced a “joint strategic enforcement initiative” aimed at combating child labor law violations, with a special focus on employees under 18 who are working in dangerous jobs prohibited by federal and state law.
Certain types of jobs are off limits to workers under 18. Some of these include operating power-driven meat, cheese and bread slicing machines commonly found in restaurants, delicatessens, and bakeries; power-driven saws and other woodworking machines; power-driven metal-working machines; forklifts, backhoes, skid-steers or other power-driven hoisting machines; power-driven bakery machines; roofing work; and most demolition and excavation work.
The U.S. Wage and Hour Division and the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development will provide outreach and education to employers and workers about protections for young workers as part of this strategic initiative, the U.S. DOL said in the announcement.
Federal officials said they have seen a significant increase in child labor law violations in recent years. In FY23, federal investigators identified 955 child labor violations nationwide that placed 5,792 children at risk, including 502 working in hazardous occupations illegally. More than $8 million in penalties were assessed against employers found to be in violation.
The two agencies will collaborate on investigations to address violations of child labor laws in New Jersey proactively. In 2022, there were an estimated 70,000 minors under the age of 18 employed by private for-profit companies in New Jersey, federal officials said.
“Along with our partners at the U.S. Department of Labor, we are firmly committed to protecting the Garden State’s young workers from unlawful, illegal and hazardous working conditions,” said NJDOL Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “By prioritizing the welfare of these vulnerable workers, we are also laying the groundwork for safer, more just working environments across the board.”
Go to the U.S. DOL website here for more information on jobs that are off limits to minors under 18. For more information on New Jersey child labor laws, including the new online process for obtaining work permits for minors under 18, go to the state DOL website here.
