Final Regulations on Child Labor May Affect Your Center
Summer 2005

The United States Department of Labor has made final regulations regarding the employment rules for minors. Effective as of February 15, 2005, these final rules expand the current protections of youth working in areas that may affect your business, such as cooking and driving.

The new regulations state that 14 and 15-year-olds may not perform cooking duties that involves pressurized fryers, any baking responsibilities including weighing, mixing and assembling of ingredients and most notably, the operation of both pizza and convection ovens.

Employees ages 14 and 15-years may still clean, maintain and repair cooking devices as long as the surfaces of the equipment or liquids do not exceed 100˚ F. However, all minors are prohibited from the operation and cleaning of power-driven meat slicers and bakery equipment. 

The new regulations also ban work-related driving on public roadways for all employees under the age of 17-years. Rules for 17-year-old drivers are extensive.

Previously, employers were required to return a federal sage certificate to the Department of Labor when a minor’s work had ended. With the new regulations, employers give this certificate to the worker, who may use it as proof of age to future employers.

For further information on these new restrictions and how they may potentially affect your business, call the Department of Labor at 1-866-487-9243 or visit the following websites: www.youthrules.dol.gov or www.youth.eeoc.gov.