A Department of Labor (DOL) final rule updating child labor protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will go into effect July 19.
According to the DOL, the final rule is “designed to protect working children from hazards in the workplace while also recognizing the value of safe work to children and their families.”
Generally, the rule requires that 14- and 15-year-olds are only permitted to perform work that is explicitly stated by DOL as being allowed, and that 16- and 17-year-olds can perform any work as long as it’s not explicitly prohibited by DOL.
For construction, the final rule maintains the long-standing full prohibition for 14- and 15-year-olds for construction-related work due to the industry’s classification as high-hazard. Workers that are 16 and 17 years old are now explicitly prohibited from performing certain tasks, including the use of power-drive hoists and work assist vehicles as well as power-driven reciprocating saws and abrasive cutting discs.
In addition, recent amendments to the FLSA permit DOL to issue a penalty of up to $50,000 for each violation that results in the death or serious injury of an employee under 18 years old. That amount can be doubled for willful or repeat violations.
For more information on this final rule as well as a side-by-side comparison of the new rule to the old rule, visit the
DOL website.