With seasonal hiring in full swing, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) is reminding workers under the age of 18 and their families that working papers are required to be completed online before starting any job.
The process for obtaining working papers has been moved to NJDOL’s online platform: MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov. Minor workers, their caregivers, and employers all fill out their respective parts of the streamlined digital application instead of using a paper form. School districts are no longer part of the application process.
Employers must register to receive a unique eight-digit Employer Unique Code (EUC). Businesses must then provide their Employer Unique Code to all newly hired minors so that the teens can complete their part of the online working paper application.
Employers can go here to learn more about permitted jobs for minors, the hours they may work, and other information pertaining to child labor laws.
"After school and summer jobs teach young people valuable skills and give them real-world experience, but the key to getting started is working papers," said acting Labor Commissioner Kevin Jarvis. "Our online system makes it easy for families to help young people get working papers quickly so they can get to work, and it assists employers in following the state’s labor laws.”
Since MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov launched in 2023, more than 227,000 minors have applied, with approximately 215,000 applications approved. In addition, nearly 20,000 employers who hire young workers have registered with NJDOL to date.
How the Working Papers Application Works:
- A minor must have a job offer before applying for working papers.
- Employers visit MyWorkingPapers.nj.gov to register and receive a unique eight-digit Employer Unique Code.
- The minor completes the online application for working papers, which includes entering their caregiver’s contact information and their potential employer’s eight-digit code.
- Email prompts notify the minor’s potential employer and caregiver to complete their respective portions of the application.
- Caregivers upload age verification documents, like a birth certificate, passport, or another official document.
- The minor can begin working once their application has been approved.
Important Reminders:
- Minors applying for working papers for the first time must register here to access the NJ Working Papers application. A new application must be submitted when a minor changes their employer, job titles or duties.
- An account for caregivers is automatically created when a minor submits their working papers application. Applications can only be submitted from the minor’s account. Returning caregivers can log in here.
- Minors must be at least 14 years old to work in most jobs, with limited exceptions.
- Minors must be paid for all hours worked, with payment provided at least twice per month with detailed pay stubs.
- Minors cannot work more than six consecutive hours without a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break.
- Even during summer, there are restrictions on daily and weekly hours based on age. For minors aged 14-15, work is limited to eight hours each day, with a total of 40 hours per week. Minors aged 16-17 can work up to 10 hours each day, with a total of 50 hours per week.
- All employees, including minors, can earn up to 40 hours of paid sick leave annually.
