Louisiana Child Labor Laws
In Louisiana, the Child Labor Law is administered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. An employment permit is required for all minors under 18, except for federal training programs for children and positions in modeling, television, film, theater, music, and other performing arts.
Child Labor Laws in Louisiana For Minors Under 14
Currently, the Louisiana Child Labor Law states that those under the age of 14 are prohibited from working because of the importance of maintaining their physical, mental, and emotional development. Children 12 to 13 years of age are allowed to work for a business in which the parent or guardian is the owner or a partner. All work in these circumstances must be directly supervised by the same parent or guardian.
Child Labor Laws in Louisiana For Minors 14 and 15 Years Old
Youth in this age group may work certain jobs, including the following:
- Office and clerical work
- Cashiering and sales
- Price marking, assembling, and packing
- Bagging and carrying out in grocery stores
- Errand and delivery work by foot or public transportation
- Cleanup work and ground maintenance (No power mowers)
- Kitchen work and dishwasher
- Car washing, dispensing gasoline, and courtesy service
- Cleaning vegetables and fruit, wrapping and stocking
- Commercial sales
- Golf caddy
They may not work in Hazardous Occupations, which include the following:
- Manufacturing
- Commercial Laundry/Dry Cleaning
- Construction
- Repair
- Work with Ladders/Scaffolding
- Work in Boiler/Engine Rooms
- Communications
- Cooking/Baking
- Meat/Cheese Slicing
- Work in Freezers/Meat Coolers
- Meat Processing
- Loading/Unloading Goods from Trucks/Trains/Conveyors
- Work with Power-Driven Machinery
Also, they may not work in establishments selling or serving alcohol for consumption. They are prohibited from working in Hazardous Occupations banned for all minors and listed below.
Louisiana laws detail the restrictions for this age group, including:
When public school is in session:
- No working during school hours
- No more than three hours on school days
- A maximum of 18 hours per week
- Not earlier than 5am or later than 7pm
- A 30 minute meal break is required after five consecutive hours of work, and a supervising adult must document the break
When public school is not in session:
- A maximum of eight hours per day
- No earlier than 5am or later than 9pm between June 1st and Labor Day
- A 30 minute meal break is required after five consecutive hours of work, and a supervising adult must document the break
Child Labor Laws in Louisiana For Minors 16 and 17 Years Old
Minors in this age group are allowed to work a variety of jobs. Driving occupations are available only to minors 17 years old. Also, 16 and 17 year olds may not work in establishments selling or serving alcohol for consumption.
The Louisiana Child Labor Law details the restrictions for this age group, including:
When public school is in session:
- No working during the school day
- No limit on the number of hours per week, but must have at least eight hours of rest at the end of a work day before beginning work again
- No earlier than 5am or later than 11pm for 16 year olds
- No earlier than 5am or later than 12am for 17 year olds
- A 30 minute meal break is required after five consecutive hours of work, and a supervising adult must document the break
When public school is not in session:
- No limit on the number of hours per week, but must have at least eight hours of rest at the end of a work day before beginning work again
- No earlier than 5am or later than 11pm for 16 year olds
- No earlier than 5am or later than 12am for 17 year olds
- A 30 minute meal break is required after five consecutive hours of work, and a supervising adult must document the break
All minors age 14 through 17 years are also prohibited from working in the following Hazardous Occupations:
- Cleaning or Oiling Machinery or Shafting
- Work in Mines or Quarries
- Stone Cutting/Polishing
- Any Job Related to Explosives
- Iron or Steel Manufacturing Plans
- Smelters or Foundries
- Sawmills or Logging Jobs
- Operation of Elevators or Hoisting Machinery
- Spray Painting or Work with Poisonous Compounds