Alabama child labor laws have provisions specifically directed to 14 and 15 year olds, including restrictions on what times during a day 14 and 15 year olds may work, how many hours in a week they many work, and what jobs or occupations they may perform. The restrictions on the employment of 14 and 15 year olds under Alabama’s child labor laws are discussed below.
Eligibility to Work Form
Alabama child labor laws require 14 and 15 year olds to obtain an Eligibility to Work Form from the Alabama Department of Labor before they may begin working for an employer. Employers must obtain a copy of a youth’s Eligibility to Work Form and retain it on file for each 14 and 15 year old the employer employs in any any occupation, except agricultural services. AL Statute 25-8-45(a), (b) Employees may obtain an Eligibility to Work Form from their school if they are performing satisfactorily in school. AL Statute 25-8-46 The school which a 14 or 15 year old attends may revoke or suspend the youth’s employment if the youth’s attendance and performance record is not satisfactory. AL Statute 25-8-45(e)
Child Labor Certificate
Alabama child labor laws require employers who wish to employ 14 and 15 year olds, except in agricultural services, to obtain a Class I Child Labor Certificate from the Alabama Department of Labor before employing any 14 or 15 year old youth. The certificate authorizes the employer to employ 14 and 15 year olds in conformance with the requirements of Alabama’s child labor laws and costs $15. An employer that employs a 14 or 15 year old without a Class I Child Labor Certificate will be subject to a $50 penalty. AL Statute 25-8-45(c), (d), (g), (h)(3)
The Alabama Department of Labor may cancel a child labor certificate if it determines that the certificate was obtained illegally or improperly and require that the youth obtain a new certificate before the youth may lawfully begin working again. AL Statute 25-8-51
Time restrictions
Pursuant to Alabama child labor laws, youth who are 14 or 15 years old may generally work:
- While school is in session
- for no more than 6 days in a school week
- for no more than 18 hours in a school week
- for no more than 8 hours on a non-school day
- for no more than 3 hours on a school day
- between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- While school is out of session
- for no more than 6 days in a workweek
- no more than 40 hours in a workweek
- between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on any given day
An exception to these time restrictions is triggered when the 14 or 15 year old has complete high school or an equivalent. In such instances, the youth may obtain permission from the local school superintendent to work the hours allowed for 14 and 15 year olds when school is not is session even when school is in session. AL Statute 25-8-37
Youth who are 14 and 15 years old may only work in a trade or occupation performed in a street or public place, such as distributing or selling newspapers, magazines, periodicals, or candy, between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. AL Statute 25-8-40 Minors who are found to be working in violation of this restriction on working in streets or public places may be arrested on juvenile delinquency charges. AL Statute 25-8-42
Prohibited jobs or work environments
Alabama child labor laws allow employers to employ youth who are 14 and 15 years old during the time periods listed above in most jobs. However, they may not work in, about, or in connection with the following unless 1) they are working in agricultural service, 2) are enrolled in a youth pre-apprenticeship, youth industry-registry apprenticeship, or similar program that is registered by the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship and where employment and work-based learning are integral to the course of study, and 3) are supervised through the Alabama Department of Education and approved by the Alabama Department of Labor.
- manufacturing or mechanical establishments
- cannery, mill, workshop, warehouse, or machine shops
- operating or assisting in operating sandpaper or wood polishing machinery
- operating or assisting in operating washing, grinding, or mixing machinery
- operating or assisting in operating commercial laundry equipment
- operating or assisting in operating machines used in picking wool, cotton, hair, or any other material
- rolling mill, machine shop, or manufacturing establishment which is hazardous or dangerous to health, limb, or life
- in proximity to hazardous or unguarded gearing
- any vessel or boat engaged in navigation or commerce within the jurisdiction of Alabama
- manufacturing or packing paints, colors, or white or red lead
- occupations causing dust in injurious quantities
- soldering, brazing, heat treating, or welding
- the building trades, except when the 14 or 15 year old is a member of the immediate family of the contractor and is employed in trades involving nonhazardous duties or occupations
- repairing, painting, or cleaning buildings or structures while working at the top of ladders, lifts, or scaffolds exceeding a height of six feet
- junk or scrap metal yard
- assorting, manufacturing, or packing tobacco
- operating any automobile, truck, or motor vehicle, or flagging or directing traffic
- airport hangars or landing strips or taxi and maintenance aprons
- lumberyards
- selling fireworks, unless under the direct supervision of an individual who is at least 18 years of age.
- any place or occupation the Alabama Department of Labor declares to be dangerous to life or limb or injurious to the health or morals of children under 16 years of age
AL Statute 25-8-33; AL Statute 25-8-35
Establishments that sell alcoholic beverages
Establishments that sell, serve, or dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises may not employ any youth under the age of 16, unless a member of the youth’s immediate family owns and operates the establishment. In such cases, youth who are 14 and 15 years old may work in the establish so long as they do not serve, sell, dispense, or handle alcoholic beverages. AL Statute 25-8-44(b), (c)
