The New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development reminds employers, teen workers and their caregivers that working papers can now be accessed online.
Minors who need working papers to start a job – and any employer who hires a worker under age 18 in New Jersey – must visit the site MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov to register.
NJDOL launched the new online system last year, following the enactment of an NJBIA-supported law to modernize the process for obtaining working papers. Public schools are no longer involved in the application process.
To date, nearly 14,000 employers have registered using the updated system and over 111,300 minors have applied for working papers, according to the NJDOL. About 65% of applications (72,000) have been approved.
Here’s how the new application process works:
- Minors and their employers each go to MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov to get started.
- Employers receive a unique 8-digit code when they register, which they share with every minor they hire.
- The minor must have an offer of employment PRIOR to applying for working papers. The minor completes the online working papers application, entering their caregiver’s name and email address, and the employer’s 8-digit code, which links the application to a specific employer.
- Emails prompt the employer and caregiver to complete their portions of the application and sign off. Caregivers also will be asked to upload a copy of a birth certificate, passport, or other official document verifying the minor’s age.
- The minor begins working when their application is approved.
Minors, employers, and caregivers all play a role and receive email notifications when it’s their turn to act. The minor and employer receive an email from NJDOL letting them know if the application has been approved or rejected.
The New Jersey Food Council, which represents food retailers and convenience stores providing jobs for teenagers, said the new online process works well.
“The NJ Minor Working Papers Program is working effectively because it allows employers to fill jobs, appropriately staff operations and serve their customers while promoting a youth workforce with a skill set and opportunity to succeed,” said New Jersey Food Council President & CEO Linda Doherty.
