Texas Child Labor Laws
Texas history depicts the Spanish influence over the centuries. With its wide-open spaces, Texas has long been a center for ranching, farming, and the oil industry. Children played a significant role in ranching and farming with the start of regulation of their work coming around the beginning of the 1900’s.
Under 14
Texas Child Labor law is administered by the Texas Workforce Commission and states minors younger than 14 years old are prohibited from working to ensure that children “are not employed in an occupation or manner detrimental to their safety, health, or well-being.” There are a few exceptions. Children under 14 may work in a motion picture, theatrical performance, radio, or television production. They may also work in newspaper delivery at the age of 11, but not sales.
14 and 15 Years Olds
There are hour restrictions only for children who are 14 and 15, with separate state and federal laws that cover their work hours. All businesses must follow state law but only those businesses covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are required to follow the federal law.
Texas State Law
State law states that 14- and 15- year olds:
- Can work no more than 8 hours in one day.
- Can work no more than 48 hours in one week.
- Cannot go to work before 5 a.m.
- Cannot work after 10 p.m. on a day that is followed by a school day, including summer school sessions when applicable.
- Cannot work past midnight on a day that is not followed by a school day.
Children that are 14 or15 years old may work in certain jobs considered engaging and rewarding. Employment may be obtained in the following areas:
- Office/clerical
- Retail cashier
- Price marking
- Order assembly
- Packing/shelving
- Bagging/carrying orders
- Errand work using bike, foot, public transportation
- Cleaning service or lawn care (no power mowers/cutters)
- Kitchen work
- Gas station attendant
- Cleaning fruits and vegetables
They may not work in establishments that sell or serve alcohol for consumption.
The following Hazardous Occupations are prohibited for this age group, as follows:
- Warehouse/Storage Work
- Food Preparation/Use of Grinders
- Public Utility Duties
- Car Repair
- Work on ladders/Scaffolding
- Operation of Lawn Mowers/Golf Carts
Additionally, there is a Hazardous Occupations list below from which all minors are restricted.
16 and 17 Years Olds
Minors 16 and 17 years old may work in a variety of jobs with no work permit required.
They may work in agricultural positions involving the cultivation or tilling of soil, producing, growing, harvesting of crops, collection of dairy, or raising of livestock, bees, poultry, and other domesticated, fur-bearing animals on farms. Additionally, positions as apprentices or student learners are allowed.
They may not work in establishments that sell or serve alcohol for consumption.
All minors under the age of 18 are prohibited from working in the following Hazardous Occupations as outlined by the State:
- Manufacturing
- Mining Coal or Other Elements
- Jobs involving Driven Machinery or Automobiles
- Demolition
- Exposure to Radioactive Materials
- Meat Slicers or Other Slicing Machine
- Roofing
- Window Washing using Ladders or Scaffolding
- Cooking or Baking
- Loading/Unloading Goods From Trucks, Rail Cars, or Motorized Conveyors
- Warehouse Work (Other than Administrative)
Texas Child Labor Law outlines the restrictions for this age group as follows:
When public school is in session:
- No working during school hours
- No more than three hours on school days
- A maximum of eight hours on non-school days
- A maximum of 18 hours per week
- No earlier than 7am or later than 7pm
When public school is not in session:
- No more than eight hours per day
- A maximum of 40 hours per week
- No hours restriction is specified